Bump the actions group with 3 updates

Bumps the actions group with 3 updates: [actions/cache](https://github.com/actions/cache), [vmactions/freebsd-vm](https://github.com/vmactions/freebsd-vm) and [actions/cache/restore](https://github.com/actions/cache). Updates `actions/cache` from 6.0.0 to 6.1.0 - [Release notes](https://github.com/actions/cache/releases) - [Changelog](https://github.com/actions/cache/blob/main/RELEASES.md) - [Commits](2c8a9bd745...55cc834586) Updates `vmactions/freebsd-vm` from 1.4.8 to 1.5.0 - [Release notes](https://github.com/vmactions/freebsd-vm/releases) - [Commits](b84ab5559b...5a72679103) Updates `actions/cache/restore` from 6.0.0 to 6.1.0 - [Release notes](https://github.com/actions/cache/releases) - [Changelog](https://github.com/actions/cache/blob/main/RELEASES.md) - [Commits](2c8a9bd745...55cc834586) --- updated-dependencies: - dependency-name: actions/cache dependency-version: 6.1.0 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-minor dependency-group: actions - dependency-name: vmactions/freebsd-vm dependency-version: 1.5.0 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-minor dependency-group: actions - dependency-name: actions/cache/restore dependency-version: 6.1.0 dependency-type: direct:production update-type: version-update:semver-minor dependency-group: actions ... Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com>
[client] Forward non-address DNS record types through route forwarders (#6455 )
2026-06-29 03:09:56 +00:00 · 2026-06-29 02:47:12 +00:00 · 2026-06-28 18:50:17 +02:00 · 2026-06-28 16:15:54 +02:00 · 2026-06-28 15:33:30 +02:00 · 2026-06-28 15:00:05 +02:00
160 changed files with 10149 additions and 4165 deletions
--- a/.github/workflows/check-license-dependencies.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/check-license-dependencies.yml
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ jobs:

    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

@@ -59,12 +59,12 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+      - uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Set up Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: true
--- a/.github/workflows/git-town.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/git-town.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
      pull-requests: write

    steps:
-      - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+      - uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false
      - uses: git-town/action@3d8b878379abb1ee393fb49865a28b4a6c2cd3b0 # v1.2.1
--- a/.github/workflows/golang-test-darwin.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/golang-test-darwin.yml
@@ -16,18 +16,18 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: macos-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: ~/go/pkg/mod
          key: macos-gotest-${{ hashFiles('**/go.sum') }}
@@ -45,10 +45,10 @@ jobs:
        run: git --no-pager diff --exit-code

      - name: Test
-        run: NETBIRD_STORE_ENGINE=${{ matrix.store }} CI=true go test -coverprofile=coverage.txt -tags=devcert -exec 'sudo --preserve-env=CI,NETBIRD_STORE_ENGINE' -timeout 5m -p 1 $(go list ./... | grep -v -e /management -e /signal -e /relay -e /proxy -e /combined)
+        run: NETBIRD_STORE_ENGINE=${{ matrix.store }} CI=true go test -coverprofile=coverage.txt -tags 'devcert privileged' -exec 'sudo --preserve-env=CI,NETBIRD_STORE_ENGINE' -timeout 5m -p 1 $(go list ./... | grep -v -e /management -e /signal -e /relay -e /proxy -e /combined -e /client/testutil/privileged)

      - name: Upload coverage reports to Codecov
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@e79a6962e0d4c0c17b229090214935d2e33f8354 #v6.0.1
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@fb8b3582c8e4def4969c97caa2f19720cb33a72f #v7.0.0
        with:
          token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
          slug: netbirdio/netbird
--- a/.github/workflows/golang-test-freebsd.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/golang-test-freebsd.yml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ jobs:
        id: test
        env:
          GO_VERSION: ${{ steps.goversion.outputs.version }}
-        uses: vmactions/freebsd-vm@d1e65811565151536c0c894fff74f06351ed26e6 # v1.4.5
+        uses: vmactions/freebsd-vm@5a72679103d223925653750faa878a143340fbd0 # v1.5.0
        with:
          usesh: true
          copyback: false
@@ -48,14 +48,14 @@ jobs:
            export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/go/bin:$HOME/go/bin
            time go build -o netbird client/main.go
            # check all component except management, since we do not support management server on freebsd
-            time go test -timeout 1m -failfast ./base62/...
+            time go test -tags privileged -timeout 1m -failfast ./base62/...
            # NOTE: without -p1 `client/internal/dns` will fail because of `listen udp4 :33100: bind: address already in use`
-            time go test -timeout 8m -failfast -v -p 1 ./client/...
-            time go test -timeout 1m -failfast ./dns/...
-            time go test -timeout 1m -failfast ./encryption/...
-            time go test -timeout 1m -failfast ./formatter/...
-            time go test -timeout 1m -failfast ./client/iface/...
-            time go test -timeout 1m -failfast ./route/...
-            time go test -timeout 1m -failfast ./sharedsock/...
-            time go test -timeout 1m -failfast ./util/...
-            time go test -timeout 1m -failfast ./version/...
+            time go test -tags privileged -timeout 8m -failfast -v -p 1 ./client/...
+            time go test -tags privileged -timeout 1m -failfast ./dns/...
+            time go test -tags privileged -timeout 1m -failfast ./encryption/...
+            time go test -tags privileged -timeout 1m -failfast ./formatter/...
+            time go test -tags privileged -timeout 1m -failfast ./client/iface/...
+            time go test -tags privileged -timeout 1m -failfast ./route/...
+            time go test -tags privileged -timeout 1m -failfast ./sharedsock/...
+            time go test -tags privileged -timeout 1m -failfast ./util/...
+            time go test -tags privileged -timeout 1m -failfast ./version/...
--- a/.github/workflows/golang-test-linux.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/golang-test-linux.yml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ jobs:
      management: ${{ steps.filter.outputs.management }}
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ jobs:
              - 'management/**'

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_ENV

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        id: cache
        with:
          path: |
@@ -119,12 +119,12 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_ENV

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ${{ env.cache }}
@@ -158,11 +158,11 @@ jobs:
        run: git --no-pager diff --exit-code

      - name: Test
-        run: CGO_ENABLED=1 GOARCH=${{ matrix.arch }} CI=true go test -coverprofile=coverage.txt -tags devcert -exec 'sudo' -timeout 10m -p 1 $(go list ./... | grep -v -e /management -e /signal -e /relay -e /proxy -e /combined)
+        run: CGO_ENABLED=1 GOARCH=${{ matrix.arch }} CI=true go test -coverprofile=coverage.txt -tags devcert -timeout 10m -p 1 $(go list ./... | grep -v -e /management -e /signal -e /relay -e /proxy -e /combined)

      - name: Upload coverage reports to Codecov
        if: matrix.arch == 'amd64'
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@e79a6962e0d4c0c17b229090214935d2e33f8354 #v6.0.1
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@fb8b3582c8e4def4969c97caa2f19720cb33a72f #v7.0.0
        with:
          token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
          slug: netbirdio/netbird
@@ -175,12 +175,12 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache_dir=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        id: cache-restore
        with:
          path: |
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ jobs:
            sh -c ' \
              apk update; apk add --no-cache \
                ca-certificates iptables ip6tables dbus dbus-dev libpcap-dev build-base; \
-              go test -buildvcs=false -tags devcert -v -timeout 10m -p 1 $(go list -buildvcs=false ./... | grep -v -e /management -e /signal -e /relay -e /proxy -e /combined -e /client/ui -e /upload-server)
+              go test -buildvcs=false -tags "devcert privileged" -v -timeout 10m -p 1 $(go list -buildvcs=false ./... | grep -v -e /management -e /signal -e /relay -e /proxy -e /combined -e /client/ui -e /upload-server -e /client/testutil/privileged)
            '

  test_relay:
@@ -246,12 +246,12 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_ENV

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ${{ env.cache }}
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ jobs:

      - name: Upload coverage reports to Codecov
        if: matrix.arch == 'amd64'
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@e79a6962e0d4c0c17b229090214935d2e33f8354 #v6.0.1
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@fb8b3582c8e4def4969c97caa2f19720cb33a72f #v7.0.0
        with:
          token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
          slug: netbirdio/netbird
@@ -306,12 +306,12 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_ENV

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ${{ env.cache }}
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ jobs:

      - name: Upload coverage reports to Codecov
        if: matrix.arch == 'amd64'
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@e79a6962e0d4c0c17b229090214935d2e33f8354 #v6.0.1
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@fb8b3582c8e4def4969c97caa2f19720cb33a72f #v7.0.0
        with:
          token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
          slug: netbirdio/netbird
@@ -363,12 +363,12 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_ENV

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ${{ env.cache }}
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ jobs:

      - name: Upload coverage reports to Codecov
        if: matrix.arch == 'amd64'
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@e79a6962e0d4c0c17b229090214935d2e33f8354 #v6.0.1
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@fb8b3582c8e4def4969c97caa2f19720cb33a72f #v7.0.0
        with:
          token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
          slug: netbirdio/netbird
@@ -424,12 +424,12 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_ENV

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ${{ env.cache }}
@@ -484,7 +484,7 @@ jobs:

      - name: Upload coverage reports to Codecov
        if: matrix.arch == 'amd64'
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@e79a6962e0d4c0c17b229090214935d2e33f8354 #v6.0.1
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@fb8b3582c8e4def4969c97caa2f19720cb33a72f #v7.0.0
        with:
          token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
          slug: netbirdio/netbird
@@ -529,12 +529,12 @@ jobs:
            prom/prometheus

      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
@@ -545,7 +545,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_ENV

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ${{ env.cache }}
@@ -579,10 +579,11 @@ jobs:
          CGO_ENABLED=1 GOARCH=${{ matrix.arch }} \
          NETBIRD_STORE_ENGINE=${{ matrix.store }} \
          CI=true \
-          GIT_BRANCH=${{ github.ref_name }} \
          go test -tags devcert -run=^$ -bench=. \
          -exec 'sudo --preserve-env=CI,NETBIRD_STORE_ENGINE,GIT_BRANCH,GITHUB_RUN_ID' \
          -timeout 20m ./management/... ./shared/management/... $(go list ./management/... ./shared/management/... | grep -v -e /management/server/http)
+        env:
+          GIT_BRANCH: ${{ github.ref_name }}

  api_benchmark:
    name: "Management / Benchmark (API)"
@@ -623,12 +624,12 @@ jobs:
            prom/prometheus

      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
@@ -639,7 +640,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_ENV

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ${{ env.cache }}
@@ -673,12 +674,13 @@ jobs:
          CGO_ENABLED=1 GOARCH=${{ matrix.arch }} \
          NETBIRD_STORE_ENGINE=${{ matrix.store }} \
          CI=true \
-          GIT_BRANCH=${{ github.ref_name }} \
          go test -tags=benchmark \
            -run=^$ \
            -bench=. \
            -exec 'sudo --preserve-env=CI,NETBIRD_STORE_ENGINE,GIT_BRANCH,GITHUB_RUN_ID' \
            -timeout 20m ./management/server/http/...
+        env:
+          GIT_BRANCH: ${{ github.ref_name }}

  api_integration_test:
    name: "Management / Integration"
@@ -692,12 +694,12 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
@@ -708,7 +710,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $GITHUB_ENV

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ${{ env.cache }}
@@ -734,7 +736,7 @@ jobs:

      - name: Upload coverage reports to Codecov
        if: matrix.arch == 'amd64'
-        uses: codecov/codecov-action@e79a6962e0d4c0c17b229090214935d2e33f8354 #v6.0.1
+        uses: codecov/codecov-action@fb8b3582c8e4def4969c97caa2f19720cb33a72f #v7.0.0
        with:
          token: ${{ secrets.CODECOV_TOKEN }}
          slug: netbirdio/netbird
--- a/.github/workflows/golang-test-windows.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/golang-test-windows.yml
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: windows-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        id: go
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ jobs:
          echo "modcache=$(go env GOMODCACHE)" >> $env:GITHUB_ENV

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ${{ env.cache }}
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ jobs:
        run: |
          $packages = go list ./... | Where-Object { $_ -notmatch '/management' } | Where-Object { $_ -notmatch '/relay' } | Where-Object { $_ -notmatch '/signal' } | Where-Object { $_ -notmatch '/proxy' } | Where-Object { $_ -notmatch '/combined' }
          $goExe = "C:\hostedtoolcache\windows\go\${{ steps.go.outputs.go-version }}\x64\bin\go.exe"
-          $cmd = "$goExe test -tags=devcert -timeout 10m -p 1 $($packages -join ' ') > test-out.txt 2>&1"
+          $cmd = "$goExe test -tags `"devcert privileged`" -timeout 10m -p 1 $($packages -join ' ') > test-out.txt 2>&1"
          Set-Content -Path "${{ github.workspace }}\run-tests.cmd" -Value $cmd

      - name: test
--- a/.github/workflows/golangci-lint.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/golangci-lint.yml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false
      - name: codespell
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ jobs:
    timeout-minutes: 15
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Check for duplicate constants
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ jobs:
        run: |
          ! awk '/const \(/,/)/{print $0}' management/server/activity/codes.go | grep -o '= [0-9]*' | sort | uniq -d | grep .
      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
--- a/.github/workflows/install-script-test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/install-script-test.yml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

--- a/.github/workflows/mobile-build-validation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/mobile-build-validation.yml
@@ -16,11 +16,11 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
      - name: Setup Android SDK
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ jobs:
        with:
          cmdline-tools-version: 8512546
      - name: Setup Java
-        uses: actions/setup-java@be666c2fcd27ec809703dec50e508c2fdc7f6654
+        uses: actions/setup-java@1bcf9fb12cf4aa7d266a90ae39939e61372fe520
        with:
          java-version: "11"
          distribution: "adopt"
      - name: NDK Cache
        id: ndk-cache
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: /usr/local/lib/android/sdk/ndk
          key: ndk-cache-23.1.7779620
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: macos-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
      - name: install gomobile
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-22.04
    steps:
      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ jobs:
        if: steps.check_diff.outputs.diff_exists == 'true'
        env:
          GO_VERSION: ${{ steps.goversion.outputs.version }}
-        uses: vmactions/freebsd-vm@d1e65811565151536c0c894fff74f06351ed26e6 # v1.4.5
+        uses: vmactions/freebsd-vm@5a72679103d223925653750faa878a143340fbd0 # v1.5.0
        with:
          usesh: true
          copyback: false
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ jobs:
      ghcr_images: ${{ steps.tag_and_push_images.outputs.images_markdown }}
    steps:
      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0 # It is required for GoReleaser to work properly
          persist-credentials: false
@@ -166,12 +166,12 @@ jobs:
          fi

      - name: Set up Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache/restore@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache/restore@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ~/go/pkg/mod
@@ -186,9 +186,9 @@ jobs:
      - name: check git status
        run: git --no-pager diff --exit-code
      - name: Set up QEMU
-        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@ce360397dd3f832beb865e1373c09c0e9f86d70a #v4.0.0
+        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@06116385d9baf250c9f4dcb4858b16962ea869c3 #v4.1.0
      - name: Set up Docker Buildx
-        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@4d04d5d9486b7bd6fa91e7baf45bbb4f8b9deedd #v4.0.0
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@d7f5e7f509e45cec5c76c4d5afdd7de93d0b3df5 #v4.1.0
      - name: Login to Docker hub
        if: github.event_name != 'pull_request'
        uses: docker/login-action@650006c6eb7dba73a995cc03b0b2d7f5ca915bee # v4.2.0
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ jobs:
        run: goversioninfo -arm -64 -icon client/ui/assets/netbird.ico -manifest client/manifest.xml -product-name ${{ env.PRODUCT_NAME }} -copyright "${{ env.COPYRIGHT }}" -ver-major ${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.major }} -ver-minor ${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.minor }} -ver-patch ${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.patch }} -ver-build 0 -file-version ${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.fullversion }}.0 -product-version ${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.fullversion }}.0 -o client/resources_windows_arm64.syso
      - name: Run GoReleaser
        id: goreleaser
-        uses: goreleaser/goreleaser-action@4c6ab561adb47e50c45ef534e2155934e91c40c1 # v7.2.0
+        uses: goreleaser/goreleaser-action@5daf1e915a5f0af01ddbcd89a43b8061ff4f1a89 # v7.2.2
        with:
          version: ${{ env.GORELEASER_VER }}
          args: release --clean ${{ env.flags }}
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ jobs:
      release_ui_artifact_url: ${{ steps.upload_release_ui.outputs.artifact-url }}
    steps:
      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0 # It is required for GoReleaser to work properly
          persist-credentials: false
@@ -374,12 +374,12 @@ jobs:
          fi

      - name: Set up Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ~/go/pkg/mod
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ jobs:
        run: goversioninfo -arm -64 -icon client/ui/assets/netbird.ico -manifest client/ui/manifest.xml -product-name ${{ env.PRODUCT_NAME }}-"UI" -copyright "${{ env.COPYRIGHT }}" -ver-major ${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.major }} -ver-minor ${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.minor }} -ver-patch ${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.patch }} -ver-build 0 -file-version ${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.fullversion }}.0 -product-version ${{ steps.semver_parser.outputs.fullversion }}.0 -o client/ui/resources_windows_arm64.syso

      - name: Run GoReleaser
-        uses: goreleaser/goreleaser-action@4c6ab561adb47e50c45ef534e2155934e91c40c1 # v7.2.0
+        uses: goreleaser/goreleaser-action@5daf1e915a5f0af01ddbcd89a43b8061ff4f1a89 # v7.2.2
        with:
          version: ${{ env.GORELEASER_VER }}
          args: release --config .goreleaser_ui.yaml --clean ${{ env.flags }}
@@ -464,17 +464,17 @@ jobs:
      - if: ${{ !startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags/v') }}
        run: echo "flags=--snapshot" >> $GITHUB_ENV
      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          fetch-depth: 0 # It is required for GoReleaser to work properly
          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Set up Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
          cache: false
      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: |
            ~/go/pkg/mod
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ jobs:
        run: git --no-pager diff --exit-code
      - name: Run GoReleaser
        id: goreleaser
-        uses: goreleaser/goreleaser-action@4c6ab561adb47e50c45ef534e2155934e91c40c1 # v7.2.0
+        uses: goreleaser/goreleaser-action@5daf1e915a5f0af01ddbcd89a43b8061ff4f1a89 # v7.2.2
        with:
          version: ${{ env.GORELEASER_VER }}
          args: release --config .goreleaser_ui_darwin.yaml --clean ${{ env.flags }}
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ jobs:
      downloadPath: '${{ github.workspace }}\temp'
    steps:
      - name: Checkout
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

@@ -534,13 +534,13 @@ jobs:
        run: echo "C:\Program Files\7-Zip" | Out-File -FilePath $env:GITHUB_PATH -Encoding utf8 -Append

      - name: Download release artifacts
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@70fc10c6e5e1ce46ad2ea6f2b72d43f7d47b13c3 # v8.0.1
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c # v8.0.1
        with:
          name: release
          path: release

      - name: Download UI release artifacts
-        uses: actions/download-artifact@70fc10c6e5e1ce46ad2ea6f2b72d43f7d47b13c3 # v8.0.1
+        uses: actions/download-artifact@3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c # v8.0.1
        with:
          name: release-ui
          path: release-ui
--- a/.github/workflows/test-infrastructure-files.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-infrastructure-files.yml
@@ -68,17 +68,17 @@ jobs:
        run: sudo apt-get install -y curl

      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"

      - name: Cache Go modules
-        uses: actions/cache@27d5ce7f107fe9357f9df03efb73ab90386fccae # v5.0.5
+        uses: actions/cache@55cc8345863c7cc4c66a329aec7e433d2d1c52a9 # v6.1.0
        with:
          path: ~/go/pkg/mod
          key: ${{ runner.os }}-go-${{ hashFiles('**/go.sum') }}
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ jobs:
      - name: Build management docker image
        working-directory: management
        run: |
-          docker build -t netbirdio/management:latest .
+          docker build -t netbirdio/management:latest --build-arg TARGETPLATFORM=. .

      - name: Build signal binary
        working-directory: signal
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ jobs:
      - name: Build signal docker image
        working-directory: signal
        run: |
-          docker build -t netbirdio/signal:latest .
+          docker build -t netbirdio/signal:latest --build-arg TARGETPLATFORM=. .

      - name: Build relay binary
        working-directory: relay
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ jobs:
      - name: Build relay docker image
        working-directory: relay
        run: |
-          docker build -t netbirdio/relay:latest .
+          docker build -t netbirdio/relay:latest --build-arg TARGETPLATFORM=. .

      - name: run docker compose up
        working-directory: infrastructure_files/artifacts
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ jobs:
        run: sudo apt-get install -y jq

      - name: Checkout code
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false

--- a/.github/workflows/wasm-build-validation.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/wasm-build-validation.yml
@@ -19,11 +19,11 @@ jobs:
      GOARCH: wasm
    steps:
      - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
      - name: Install dependencies
@@ -44,11 +44,11 @@ jobs:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout repository
-        uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
+        uses: actions/checkout@9c091bb21b7c1c1d1991bb908d89e4e9dddfe3e0 # v7.0.0
        with:
          persist-credentials: false
      - name: Install Go
-        uses: actions/setup-go@4b73464bb391d4059bd26b0524d20df3927bd417 # v6.3.0
+        uses: actions/setup-go@924ae3a1cded613372ab5595356fb5720e22ba16 # v6.5.0
        with:
          go-version-file: "go.mod"
      - name: Build Wasm client
--- a/.goreleaser.yaml
+++ b/.goreleaser.yaml
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ dockers_v2:
       - netbirdio/netbird
       - ghcr.io/netbirdio/netbird
     tags:
-       - "v{{ .Version }}"
+       - "{{ .Version }}"
       - "{{ if eq .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH \"false\" }}latest{{ end }}"
     dockerfile: client/Dockerfile
     extra_files:
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ dockers_v2:
       - netbirdio/relay
       - ghcr.io/netbirdio/relay
     tags:
-       - "v{{ .Version }}"
+       - "{{ .Version }}"
       - "{{ if eq .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH \"false\" }}latest{{ end }}"
     dockerfile: relay/Dockerfile
     platforms:
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ dockers_v2:
       - netbirdio/signal
       - ghcr.io/netbirdio/signal
     tags:
-       - "v{{ .Version }}"
+       - "{{ .Version }}"
       - "{{ if eq .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH \"false\" }}latest{{ end }}"
     dockerfile: signal/Dockerfile
     platforms:
@@ -339,7 +339,7 @@ dockers_v2:
       - netbirdio/management
       - ghcr.io/netbirdio/management
     tags:
-       - "v{{ .Version }}"
+       - "{{ .Version }}"
       - "{{ if eq .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH \"false\" }}latest{{ end }}"
     dockerfile: management/Dockerfile
     platforms:
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ dockers_v2:
       - netbirdio/upload
       - ghcr.io/netbirdio/upload
     tags:
-       - "v{{ .Version }}"
+       - "{{ .Version }}"
       - "{{ if eq .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH \"false\" }}latest{{ end }}"
     dockerfile: upload-server/Dockerfile
     platforms:
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ dockers_v2:
       - netbirdio/netbird-server
       - ghcr.io/netbirdio/netbird-server
     tags:
-       - "v{{ .Version }}"
+       - "{{ .Version }}"
       - "{{ if eq .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH \"false\" }}latest{{ end }}"
     dockerfile: combined/Dockerfile
     platforms:
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ dockers_v2:
       - netbirdio/reverse-proxy
       - ghcr.io/netbirdio/reverse-proxy
     tags:
-       - "v{{ .Version }}"
+       - "{{ .Version }}"
       - "{{ if eq .Env.SKIP_PUBLISH \"false\" }}latest{{ end }}"
     dockerfile: proxy/Dockerfile
     platforms:
@@ -462,9 +462,13 @@ checksum:
    - glob: ./infrastructure_files/getting-started-with-zitadel.sh
    - glob: ./release_files/install.sh
    - glob: ./infrastructure_files/getting-started.sh
+    - glob: ./infrastructure_files/getting-started-enterprise.sh
+    - glob: ./infrastructure_files/migrate-to-enterprise.sh

 release:
  extra_files:
    - glob: ./infrastructure_files/getting-started-with-zitadel.sh
    - glob: ./release_files/install.sh
    - glob: ./infrastructure_files/getting-started.sh
+    - glob: ./infrastructure_files/getting-started-enterprise.sh
+    - glob: ./infrastructure_files/migrate-to-enterprise.sh
--- a/14
+++ b/14
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.PHONY: lint lint-all lint-install setup-hooks
+.PHONY: lint lint-all lint-install setup-hooks test-unit test-privileged
 GOLANGCI_LINT := $(shell pwd)/bin/golangci-lint

 # Install golangci-lint locally if needed
@@ -25,3 +25,15 @@ setup-hooks:
 	@git config core.hooksPath .githooks
 	@chmod +x .githooks/pre-push
 	@echo "✅ Git hooks configured! Pre-push will now run 'make lint'"
+
+# Host-safe unit tests: excludes the privileged-tagged tests (root / system-mutating).
+# Runs as a normal user with no sudo and leaves host networking untouched.
+test-unit:
+	@go test -tags devcert -timeout 10m ./...
+
+# Privileged suite: runs the `privileged`-tagged tests inside a --privileged
+# --cap-add=NET_ADMIN container via the ory/dockertest harness. Requires Docker.
+# Narrow the run with env vars, e.g.:
+#   PRIV_RUN=TestNftablesManager PRIV_PKGS=./client/firewall/nftables/... make test-privileged
+test-privileged:
+	@go test -tags 'devcert privileged' -timeout 30m -run TestRunPrivilegedSuiteInDocker -v ./client/testutil/privileged/...
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -37,6 +37,11 @@
  </strong>
 </p>

+> ### 🤖 NetBird Agent Network (Beta)
+> Identity-aware access control for AI agents — keyless access to LLM APIs and private
+> resources over the encrypted NetBird tunnel. See [`agent-network/`](agent-network/) or
+> read the docs at **[netbird.ai](https://netbird.ai)**.
+
 **NetBird combines a configuration-free peer-to-peer private network and a centralized access control system in a single platform, making it easy to create secure private networks for your organization or home.**

 **Connect.** NetBird creates a WireGuard-based overlay network that automatically connects your machines over an encrypted tunnel, leaving behind the hassle of opening ports, complex firewall rules, VPN gateways, and so forth.
--- a/agent-network/README.md
+++ b/agent-network/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+# NetBird Agent Network
+
+Agent Network is NetBird's access control layer for AI agents and the people who run
+them. It gives every agent a real identity, tied to your identity provider (IdP), and
+governs what it can reach — the LLM APIs and AI gateways it can call, and the internal
+resources it can access. Traffic flows only over the encrypted NetBird tunnel, scoped by
+policy, with no API keys to leak.
+
+> **Beta.** Agent Network is open source and can be self-hosted on your own
+> infrastructure.
+
+## How it works
+
+Agent Network is built on two existing NetBird capabilities:
+
+- **Overlay network** — the encrypted WireGuard mesh between peers.
+- **Reverse proxy** — a NetBird peer that terminates LLM requests, establishes the
+  caller's identity, evaluates policies/limits/guardrails, injects the upstream provider
+  key server-side, forwards to the API or gateway, and records usage.
+
+LLM traffic is routed through the proxy's identity-aware pipeline, while internal
+resources (databases, internal APIs, self-hosted models) are reached directly over
+peer-to-peer WireGuard tunnels, governed by the same identities and access policies.
+
+## Where the code lives
+
+There is no separate "agent-network" service — it reuses the reverse-proxy and management
+components:
+
+- [`proxy/`](../proxy) — the NetBird reverse proxy that serves the agent network endpoint
+  and runs the per-request middleware pipeline.
+- [`management/internals/modules/reverseproxy/`](../management/internals/modules/reverseproxy)
+  — the management-side control plane: providers, policies, guardrails, limits, routing,
+  and usage/access logs.
+
+## Documentation
+
+Full documentation, architecture, and quickstart:
+**https://docs.netbird.io/agent-network**
--- a/client/android/profile_manager.go
+++ b/client/android/profile_manager.go
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"strings"

 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"

@@ -24,6 +23,7 @@ const (

 // Profile represents a profile for gomobile
 type Profile struct {
+	ID       string
 	Name     string
 	IsActive bool
 }
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ func (p *ProfileArray) Get(i int) *Profile {
 ├── state.json                                  ← Default profile state
 ├── active_profile.json                         ← Active profile tracker (JSON with Name + Username)
 └── profiles/                                   ← Subdirectory for non-default profiles
-    ├── work.json                              ← Work profile config
-    ├── work.state.json                        ← Work profile state
-    ├── personal.json                          ← Personal profile config
-    └── personal.state.json                    ← Personal profile state
+    ├── work.json                              			← Legacy work profile config
+    ├── work.state.json                        			← Legacy work profile state
+    ├── 4c5f5c8198c3989cffb5b5394f5a7ae0.json  			← ID profile config
+    ├── 4c5f5c8198c3989cffb5b5394f5a7ae0.state.json ← ID profile state
 */

 // ProfileManager manages profiles for Android
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) ListProfiles() (*ProfileArray, error) {
 	var profiles []*Profile
 	for _, p := range internalProfiles {
 		profiles = append(profiles, &Profile{
+			ID:       p.ID.String(),
 			Name:     p.Name,
 			IsActive: p.IsActive,
 		})
@@ -108,55 +109,65 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) ListProfiles() (*ProfileArray, error) {
 }

 // GetActiveProfile returns the currently active profile name
-func (pm *ProfileManager) GetActiveProfile() (string, error) {
+func (pm *ProfileManager) GetActiveProfile() (*Profile, error) {
 	// Use ServiceManager to stay consistent with ListProfiles
 	// ServiceManager uses active_profile.json
 	activeState, err := pm.serviceMgr.GetActiveProfileState()
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile: %w", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile: %w", err)
 	}
-	return activeState.Name, nil
+
+	// ActiveProfileState only stores the ID (and username), not the display
+	// name. Resolve the ID to the full profile so callers get the real Name.
+	prof, err := pm.serviceMgr.ResolveProfile(activeState.ID.String(), androidUsername)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to resolve active profile %q: %w", activeState.ID, err)
+	}
+	return &Profile{ID: prof.ID.String(), Name: prof.Name, IsActive: true}, nil
 }

 // SwitchProfile switches to a different profile
-func (pm *ProfileManager) SwitchProfile(profileName string) error {
+func (pm *ProfileManager) SwitchProfile(id string) error {
 	// Use ServiceManager to stay consistent with ListProfiles
 	// ServiceManager uses active_profile.json
 	err := pm.serviceMgr.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     profileName,
+		ID:       profilemanager.ID(id),
 		Username: androidUsername,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %w", err)
 	}

-	log.Infof("switched to profile: %s", profileName)
+	log.Infof("switched to profile: %s", id)
 	return nil
 }

 // AddProfile creates a new profile
 func (pm *ProfileManager) AddProfile(profileName string) error {
 	// Use ServiceManager (creates profile in profiles/ directory)
-	if err := pm.serviceMgr.AddProfile(profileName, androidUsername); err != nil {
+	profile, err := pm.serviceMgr.AddProfile(profileName, androidUsername)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to add profile: %w", err)
 	}

-	log.Infof("created new profile: %s", profileName)
+	log.Infof("created new profile: %s", profile.ID)
 	return nil
 }

 // LogoutProfile logs out from a profile (clears authentication)
-func (pm *ProfileManager) LogoutProfile(profileName string) error {
-	profileName = sanitizeProfileName(profileName)
-
-	configPath, err := pm.getProfileConfigPath(profileName)
+func (pm *ProfileManager) LogoutProfile(id string) error {
+	configPath, err := pm.getProfileConfigPath(id)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}

+	if !profilemanager.IsValidProfileFilenameStem(profilemanager.ID(id)) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("id '%s' is not valid", id)
+	}
+
 	// Check if profile exists
 	if _, err := os.Stat(configPath); os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return fmt.Errorf("profile '%s' does not exist", profileName)
+		return fmt.Errorf("profile '%s' does not exist", id)
 	}

 	// Read current config using internal profilemanager
@@ -174,53 +185,57 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) LogoutProfile(profileName string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to save config: %w", err)
 	}

-	log.Infof("logged out from profile: %s", profileName)
+	log.Infof("logged out from profile: %s", id)
 	return nil
 }

 // RemoveProfile deletes a profile
-func (pm *ProfileManager) RemoveProfile(profileName string) error {
+func (pm *ProfileManager) RemoveProfile(id string) error {
 	// Use ServiceManager (removes profile from profiles/ directory)
-	if err := pm.serviceMgr.RemoveProfile(profileName, androidUsername); err != nil {
+	if err := pm.serviceMgr.RemoveProfile(profilemanager.ID(id), androidUsername); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to remove profile: %w", err)
 	}

-	log.Infof("removed profile: %s", profileName)
+	log.Infof("removed profile: %s", id)
 	return nil
 }

 // getProfileConfigPath returns the config file path for a profile
 // This is needed for Android-specific path handling (netbird.cfg for default profile)
-func (pm *ProfileManager) getProfileConfigPath(profileName string) (string, error) {
-	if profileName == "" || profileName == profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
+func (pm *ProfileManager) getProfileConfigPath(id string) (string, error) {
+	if !profilemanager.IsValidProfileFilenameStem(profilemanager.ID(id)) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("id %q is not valid", id)
+	}
+
+	if id == profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
 		// Android uses netbird.cfg for default profile instead of default.json
 		// Default profile is stored in root configDir, not in profiles/
 		return filepath.Join(pm.configDir, defaultConfigFilename), nil
 	}

-	// Non-default profiles are stored in profiles subdirectory
-	// This matches the Java Preferences.java expectation
-	profileName = sanitizeProfileName(profileName)
 	profilesDir := filepath.Join(pm.configDir, profilesSubdir)
-	return filepath.Join(profilesDir, profileName+".json"), nil
+	return filepath.Join(profilesDir, id+".json"), nil
 }

-// GetConfigPath returns the config file path for a given profile
+// GetConfigPath returns the config file path for a given profile id
 // Java should call this instead of constructing paths with Preferences.configFile()
-func (pm *ProfileManager) GetConfigPath(profileName string) (string, error) {
-	return pm.getProfileConfigPath(profileName)
+func (pm *ProfileManager) GetConfigPath(id string) (string, error) {
+	return pm.getProfileConfigPath(id)
 }

 // GetStateFilePath returns the state file path for a given profile
 // Java should call this instead of constructing paths with Preferences.stateFile()
-func (pm *ProfileManager) GetStateFilePath(profileName string) (string, error) {
-	if profileName == "" || profileName == profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
+func (pm *ProfileManager) GetStateFilePath(id string) (string, error) {
+	if id == "" || id == profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
 		return filepath.Join(pm.configDir, "state.json"), nil
 	}

-	profileName = sanitizeProfileName(profileName)
+	if !profilemanager.IsValidProfileFilenameStem(profilemanager.ID(id)) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("id %q is not valid", id)
+	}
+
 	profilesDir := filepath.Join(pm.configDir, profilesSubdir)
-	return filepath.Join(profilesDir, profileName+".state.json"), nil
+	return filepath.Join(profilesDir, id+".state.json"), nil
 }

 // GetActiveConfigPath returns the config file path for the currently active profile
@@ -230,7 +245,7 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) GetActiveConfigPath() (string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile: %w", err)
 	}
-	return pm.GetConfigPath(activeProfile)
+	return pm.GetConfigPath(activeProfile.ID)
 }

 // GetActiveStateFilePath returns the state file path for the currently active profile
@@ -240,18 +255,5 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) GetActiveStateFilePath() (string, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile: %w", err)
 	}
-	return pm.GetStateFilePath(activeProfile)
-}
-
-// sanitizeProfileName removes invalid characters from profile name
-func sanitizeProfileName(name string) string {
-	// Keep only alphanumeric, underscore, and hyphen
-	var result strings.Builder
-	for _, r := range name {
-		if (r >= 'a' && r <= 'z') || (r >= 'A' && r <= 'Z') ||
-			(r >= '0' && r <= '9') || r == '_' || r == '-' {
-			result.WriteRune(r)
-		}
-	}
-	return result.String()
+	return pm.GetStateFilePath(activeProfile.ID)
 }
--- a/client/cmd/debug.go
+++ b/client/cmd/debug.go
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ func debugConfigDump(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {

 	client := proto.NewDaemonServiceClient(conn)
 	resp, err := client.GetConfig(cmd.Context(), &proto.GetConfigRequest{
-		ProfileName: activeProf.Name,
+		ProfileName: string(activeProf.ID),
 		Username:    currUser.Username,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
--- a/client/cmd/login.go
+++ b/client/cmd/login.go
@@ -96,17 +96,19 @@ func doDaemonLogin(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, providedSetupKey str
 		dnsLabelsReq = dnsLabelsValidated.ToSafeStringList()
 	}

+	handle := activeProf.ID.String()
+
 	loginRequest := proto.LoginRequest{
 		SetupKey:            providedSetupKey,
 		ManagementUrl:       managementURL,
 		IsUnixDesktopClient: isUnixRunningDesktop(),
 		Hostname:            hostName,
 		DnsLabels:           dnsLabelsReq,
-		ProfileName:         &activeProf.Name,
+		ProfileName:         &handle,
 		Username:            &username,
 	}

-	profileState, err := pm.GetProfileState(activeProf.Name)
+	profileState, err := pm.GetProfileState(activeProf.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Debugf("failed to get profile state for login hint: %v", err)
 	} else if profileState.Email != "" {
@@ -170,14 +172,13 @@ func getActiveProfile(ctx context.Context, pm *profilemanager.ProfileManager, pr
 	return activeProf, nil
 }

-func switchProfileOnDaemon(ctx context.Context, pm *profilemanager.ProfileManager, profileName string, username string) error {
-	err := switchProfile(context.Background(), profileName, username)
+func switchProfileOnDaemon(ctx context.Context, pm *profilemanager.ProfileManager, handle string, username string) error {
+	resolvedID, err := switchProfile(ctx, handle, username)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("switch profile on daemon: %v", err)
 	}

-	err = pm.SwitchProfile(profileName)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := pm.SwitchProfile(resolvedID); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("switch profile: %v", err)
 	}

@@ -205,11 +206,15 @@ func switchProfileOnDaemon(ctx context.Context, pm *profilemanager.ProfileManage
 	return nil
 }

-func switchProfile(ctx context.Context, profileName string, username string) error {
+// switchProfile asks the daemon to switch to the profile identified by
+// handle (a name, ID, or unique ID prefix). Returns the resolved profile
+// ID so the caller can update the local active-profile state without
+// re-resolving the handle.
+func switchProfile(ctx context.Context, handle string, username string) (profilemanager.ID, error) {
 	conn, err := DialClientGRPCServer(ctx, daemonAddr)
 	if err != nil {
 		//nolint
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to daemon error: %v\n"+
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to daemon error: %v\n"+
 			"If the daemon is not running please run: "+
 			"\nnetbird service install \nnetbird service start\n", err)
 	}
@@ -217,15 +222,15 @@ func switchProfile(ctx context.Context, profileName string, username string) err

 	client := proto.NewDaemonServiceClient(conn)

-	_, err = client.SwitchProfile(ctx, &proto.SwitchProfileRequest{
-		ProfileName: &profileName,
+	resp, err := client.SwitchProfile(ctx, &proto.SwitchProfileRequest{
+		ProfileName: &handle,
 		Username:    &username,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("switch profile failed: %v", err)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("switch profile failed: %w", err)
 	}

-	return nil
+	return profilemanager.ID(resp.Id), nil
 }

 func doForegroundLogin(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, setupKey string, activeProf *profilemanager.Profile) error {
@@ -249,7 +254,7 @@ func doForegroundLogin(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, setupKey string,
 		return fmt.Errorf("read config file %s: %v", configFilePath, err)
 	}

-	err = foregroundLogin(ctx, cmd, config, setupKey, activeProf.Name)
+	err = foregroundLogin(ctx, cmd, config, setupKey, activeProf.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("foreground login failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -277,7 +282,7 @@ func handleSSOLogin(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, loginResp *proto.Lo
 	return nil
 }

-func foregroundLogin(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, config *profilemanager.Config, setupKey, profileName string) error {
+func foregroundLogin(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, config *profilemanager.Config, setupKey string, profileID profilemanager.ID) error {
 	authClient, err := auth.NewAuth(ctx, config.PrivateKey, config.ManagementURL, config)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create auth client: %v", err)
@@ -291,7 +296,7 @@ func foregroundLogin(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, config *profileman

 	jwtToken := ""
 	if setupKey == "" && needsLogin {
-		tokenInfo, err := foregroundGetTokenInfo(ctx, cmd, config, profileName)
+		tokenInfo, err := foregroundGetTokenInfo(ctx, cmd, config, profileID)
 		if err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("interactive sso login failed: %v", err)
 		}
@@ -306,10 +311,10 @@ func foregroundLogin(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, config *profileman
 	return nil
 }

-func foregroundGetTokenInfo(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, config *profilemanager.Config, profileName string) (*auth.TokenInfo, error) {
+func foregroundGetTokenInfo(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, config *profilemanager.Config, profileID profilemanager.ID) (*auth.TokenInfo, error) {
 	hint := ""
 	pm := profilemanager.NewProfileManager()
-	profileState, err := pm.GetProfileState(profileName)
+	profileState, err := pm.GetProfileState(profileID)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Debugf("failed to get profile state for login hint: %v", err)
 	} else if profileState.Email != "" {
--- a/client/cmd/login_test.go
+++ b/client/cmd/login_test.go
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func TestLogin(t *testing.T) {
 	profilemanager.ActiveProfileStatePath = tempDir + "/active_profile.json"
 	sm := profilemanager.ServiceManager{}
 	err = sm.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     "default",
+		ID:       "default",
 		Username: currUser.Username,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
--- a/client/cmd/profile.go
+++ b/client/cmd/profile.go
@@ -2,11 +2,16 @@ package cmd

 import (
 	"context"
+	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"os/user"
+	"strings"
+	"text/tabwriter"
 	"time"

 	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/codes"
+	gstatus "google.golang.org/grpc/status"

 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
@@ -14,6 +19,8 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/util"
 )

+var profileListShowID bool
+
 var profileCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "profile",
 	Short: "Manage NetBird client profiles",
@@ -31,27 +38,40 @@ var profileListCmd = &cobra.Command{
 var profileAddCmd = &cobra.Command{
 	Use:   "add <profile_name>",
 	Short: "Add a new profile",
-	Long:  `Add a new profile to the NetBird client. The profile name must be unique.`,
+	Long:  `Add a new profile. Profile name is free-form, a unique ID is generated for the on-disk config file.`,
 	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
 	RunE:  addProfileFunc,
 }

+var profileRenameCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "rename <profile> <new_profile_name>",
+	Short: "Renames an existing profile",
+	Long:  `Renames an existing profile (by a name, ID, or unique ID prefix). Profile name is free-form.`,
+	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(2),
+	RunE:  renameProfileFunc,
+}
+
 var profileRemoveCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "remove <profile_name>",
-	Short: "Remove a profile",
-	Long:  `Remove a profile from the NetBird client. The profile must not be inactive.`,
-	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
-	RunE:  removeProfileFunc,
+	Use:     "remove <profile>",
+	Short:   "Remove a profile",
+	Long:    `Remove a profile by name, ID, or unique ID prefix.`,
+	Aliases: []string{"rm"},
+	Args:    cobra.ExactArgs(1),
+	RunE:    removeProfileFunc,
 }

 var profileSelectCmd = &cobra.Command{
-	Use:   "select <profile_name>",
+	Use:   "select <profile>",
 	Short: "Select a profile",
-	Long:  `Make the specified profile active. This will switch the client to use the selected profile's configuration.`,
+	Long:  `Make the specified profile active. Accepts a name, ID, or unique ID prefix.`,
 	Args:  cobra.ExactArgs(1),
 	RunE:  selectProfileFunc,
 }

+func init() {
+	profileListCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&profileListShowID, "show-id", false, "show the profile ID column")
+}
+
 func setupCmd(cmd *cobra.Command) error {
 	SetFlagsFromEnvVars(rootCmd)
 	SetFlagsFromEnvVars(cmd)
@@ -65,6 +85,7 @@ func setupCmd(cmd *cobra.Command) error {

 	return nil
 }
+
 func listProfilesFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {
 	if err := setupCmd(cmd); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -83,25 +104,33 @@ func listProfilesFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, _ []string) error {

 	daemonClient := proto.NewDaemonServiceClient(conn)

-	profiles, err := daemonClient.ListProfiles(cmd.Context(), &proto.ListProfilesRequest{
+	resp, err := daemonClient.ListProfiles(cmd.Context(), &proto.ListProfilesRequest{
 		Username: currUser.Username,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}

-	// list profiles, add a tick if the profile is active
-	cmd.Println("Found", len(profiles.Profiles), "profiles:")
-	for _, profile := range profiles.Profiles {
-		// use a cross to indicate the passive profiles
-		activeMarker := "✗"
-		if profile.IsActive {
-			activeMarker = "✓"
-		}
-		cmd.Println(activeMarker, profile.Name)
+	tw := tabwriter.NewWriter(cmd.OutOrStdout(), 0, 0, 2, ' ', 0)
+	if profileListShowID {
+		fmt.Fprintln(tw, "ID\tNAME\tACTIVE")
+	} else {
+		fmt.Fprintln(tw, "NAME\tACTIVE")
 	}
-
-	return nil
+	for _, profile := range resp.Profiles {
+		marker := ""
+		if profile.IsActive {
+			marker = "✓"
+		}
+		name := profilemanager.StripCtrlChars(profile.Name)
+		id := profilemanager.ID(profile.Id)
+		if profileListShowID {
+			fmt.Fprintf(tw, "%s\t%s\t%s\n", id.ShortID(), name, marker)
+		} else {
+			fmt.Fprintf(tw, "%s\t%s\n", name, marker)
+		}
+	}
+	return tw.Flush()
 }

 func addProfileFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
@@ -109,6 +138,41 @@ func addProfileFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return err
 	}

+	currUser, err := user.Current()
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("get current user: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	conn, err := DialClientGRPCServer(cmd.Context(), daemonAddr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("connect to service CLI interface: %w", err)
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+
+	daemonClient := proto.NewDaemonServiceClient(conn)
+	profileName := args[0]
+
+	id, err := addProfileOnDaemon(cmd.Context(), daemonClient, profileName, currUser.Username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	dupCount, _ := countProfilesWithName(cmd.Context(), daemonClient, currUser.Username, profileName)
+	if dupCount > 1 {
+		cmd.Printf("Warning: %d other profile(s) already use the name %q.\n", dupCount-1, profileName)
+		cmd.Println("Use `netbird profile list --show-id` to disambiguate later.")
+	}
+
+	cmd.Printf("Profile added: %s  %s\n", id.ShortID(), profilemanager.StripCtrlChars(profileName))
+	return nil
+
+}
+
+func renameProfileFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
+	if err := setupCmd(cmd); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
 	conn, err := DialClientGRPCServer(cmd.Context(), daemonAddr)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("connect to service CLI interface: %w", err)
@@ -121,21 +185,43 @@ func addProfileFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	}

 	daemonClient := proto.NewDaemonServiceClient(conn)
+	handle := args[0]
+	newProfilename := args[1]

-	profileName := args[0]
-
-	_, err = daemonClient.AddProfile(cmd.Context(), &proto.AddProfileRequest{
-		ProfileName: profileName,
-		Username:    currUser.Username,
+	resp, err := daemonClient.RenameProfile(cmd.Context(), &proto.RenameProfileRequest{
+		Handle:         handle,
+		Username:       currUser.Username,
+		NewProfileName: newProfilename,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return wrapAmbiguityError(err, handle)
 	}

-	cmd.Println("Profile added successfully:", profileName)
+	dupCount, _ := countProfilesWithName(cmd.Context(), daemonClient, currUser.Username, newProfilename)
+	if dupCount > 1 {
+		cmd.Printf("Warning: %d other profile(s) already use the name %q.\n", dupCount-1, newProfilename)
+		cmd.Println("Use `netbird profile list --show-id` to disambiguate later.")
+	}
+
+	cmd.Printf("Profile renamed from %s to %s\n", profilemanager.StripCtrlChars(resp.OldProfileName), profilemanager.StripCtrlChars(newProfilename))
+
 	return nil
 }

+func countProfilesWithName(ctx context.Context, c proto.DaemonServiceClient, username, name string) (int, error) {
+	resp, err := c.ListProfiles(ctx, &proto.ListProfilesRequest{Username: username})
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	n := 0
+	for _, p := range resp.Profiles {
+		if p.Name == name {
+			n++
+		}
+	}
+	return n, nil
+}
+
 func removeProfileFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	if err := setupCmd(cmd); err != nil {
 		return err
@@ -153,18 +239,17 @@ func removeProfileFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	}

 	daemonClient := proto.NewDaemonServiceClient(conn)
+	handle := args[0]

-	profileName := args[0]
-
-	_, err = daemonClient.RemoveProfile(cmd.Context(), &proto.RemoveProfileRequest{
-		ProfileName: profileName,
+	resp, err := daemonClient.RemoveProfile(cmd.Context(), &proto.RemoveProfileRequest{
+		ProfileName: handle,
 		Username:    currUser.Username,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return err
+		return wrapAmbiguityError(err, handle)
 	}

-	cmd.Println("Profile removed successfully:", profileName)
+	cmd.Printf("Profile removed: %s\n", resp.Id)
 	return nil
 }

@@ -174,7 +259,7 @@ func selectProfileFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	}

 	profileManager := profilemanager.NewProfileManager()
-	profileName := args[0]
+	handle := args[0]

 	currUser, err := user.Current()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -191,32 +276,15 @@ func selectProfileFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {

 	daemonClient := proto.NewDaemonServiceClient(conn)

-	profiles, err := daemonClient.ListProfiles(ctx, &proto.ListProfilesRequest{
-		Username: currUser.Username,
+	switchResp, err := daemonClient.SwitchProfile(ctx, &proto.SwitchProfileRequest{
+		ProfileName: &handle,
+		Username:    &currUser.Username,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("list profiles: %w", err)
+		return wrapAmbiguityError(err, handle)
 	}

-	var profileExists bool
-
-	for _, profile := range profiles.Profiles {
-		if profile.Name == profileName {
-			profileExists = true
-			break
-		}
-	}
-
-	if !profileExists {
-		return fmt.Errorf("profile %s does not exist", profileName)
-	}
-
-	if err := switchProfile(cmd.Context(), profileName, currUser.Username); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-
-	err = profileManager.SwitchProfile(profileName)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := profileManager.SwitchProfile(profilemanager.ID(switchResp.Id)); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}

@@ -231,6 +299,46 @@ func selectProfileFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		}
 	}

-	cmd.Println("Profile switched successfully to:", profileName)
+	id := profilemanager.ID(switchResp.Id)
+	cmd.Printf("Profile switched to: %s\n", id.ShortID())
 	return nil
 }
+
+// wrapAmbiguityError turns the daemon's gRPC InvalidArgument errors
+// (which carry the resolver's message verbatim) into CLI-friendly text
+// that points the user at --show-id.
+func wrapAmbiguityError(err error, handle string) error {
+	if err == nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+	st, ok := gstatus.FromError(err)
+	if !ok {
+		return err
+	}
+	switch st.Code() {
+	case codes.InvalidArgument:
+		msg := st.Message()
+		if strings.Contains(msg, "ambiguous") {
+			return errors.New(msg + "\nRun `netbird profile list --show-id` to see IDs, then select by ID prefix:\n  netbird profile select|remove <id-prefix>")
+		}
+	case codes.NotFound:
+		return fmt.Errorf("profile %q not found", handle)
+	}
+	return err
+}
+
+// addProfileOnDaemon issues the AddProfile RPC on an existing daemon client
+// and returns the new profile's ID. It is the single entry point for profile
+// creation, shared by `netbird profile add` and the `netbird up --profile
+// <name>` auto-create path.
+func addProfileOnDaemon(ctx context.Context, client proto.DaemonServiceClient, profileName, username string) (profilemanager.ID, error) {
+	resp, err := client.AddProfile(ctx, &proto.AddProfileRequest{
+		ProfileName: profileName,
+		Username:    username,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("add profile failed: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return profilemanager.ID(resp.Id), nil
+}
--- a/client/cmd/root.go
+++ b/client/cmd/root.go
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ func init() {
 	// profile commands
 	profileCmd.AddCommand(profileListCmd)
 	profileCmd.AddCommand(profileAddCmd)
+	profileCmd.AddCommand(profileRenameCmd)
 	profileCmd.AddCommand(profileRemoveCmd)
 	profileCmd.AddCommand(profileSelectCmd)

--- a/client/cmd/service_privileged_test.go
+++ b/client/cmd/service_privileged_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,196 @@
+//go:build privileged
+
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"runtime"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/kardianos/service"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+const (
+	serviceStartTimeout = 10 * time.Second
+	serviceStopTimeout  = 5 * time.Second
+	statusPollInterval  = 500 * time.Millisecond
+)
+
+// waitForServiceStatus waits for service to reach expected status with timeout
+func waitForServiceStatus(expectedStatus service.Status, timeout time.Duration) (bool, error) {
+	cfg, err := newSVCConfig()
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	ctxSvc, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	defer cancel()
+
+	s, err := newSVC(newProgram(ctxSvc, cancel), cfg)
+	if err != nil {
+		return false, err
+	}
+
+	ctx, timeoutCancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), timeout)
+	defer timeoutCancel()
+
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(statusPollInterval)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-ctx.Done():
+			return false, fmt.Errorf("timeout waiting for service status %v", expectedStatus)
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			status, err := s.Status()
+			if err != nil {
+				// Continue polling on transient errors
+				continue
+			}
+			if status == expectedStatus {
+				return true, nil
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// TestServiceLifecycle tests the complete service lifecycle
+func TestServiceLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
+	// TODO: Add support for Windows and macOS
+	if runtime.GOOS != "linux" && runtime.GOOS != "freebsd" {
+		t.Skipf("Skipping service lifecycle test on unsupported OS: %s", runtime.GOOS)
+	}
+
+	if os.Getenv("CONTAINER") == "true" {
+		t.Skip("Skipping service lifecycle test in container environment")
+	}
+
+	originalServiceName := serviceName
+	serviceName = "netbirdtest" + fmt.Sprintf("%d", time.Now().Unix())
+	defer func() {
+		serviceName = originalServiceName
+	}()
+
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	configPath = fmt.Sprintf("%s/netbird-test-config.json", tempDir)
+	logLevel = "info"
+	daemonAddr = fmt.Sprintf("unix://%s/netbird-test.sock", tempDir)
+
+	// Ensure cleanup even if a subtest fails and Stop/Uninstall subtests don't run.
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		cfg, err := newSVCConfig()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("cleanup: create service config: %v", err)
+			return
+		}
+		ctxSvc, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+		s, err := newSVC(newProgram(ctxSvc, cancel), cfg)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("cleanup: create service: %v", err)
+			return
+		}
+
+		// If the subtests already cleaned up, there's nothing to do.
+		if _, err := s.Status(); err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+
+		if err := s.Stop(); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("cleanup: stop service: %v", err)
+		}
+		if err := s.Uninstall(); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("cleanup: uninstall service: %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	t.Run("Install", func(t *testing.T) {
+		installCmd.SetContext(ctx)
+		err := installCmd.RunE(installCmd, []string{})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		cfg, err := newSVCConfig()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		ctxSvc, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		s, err := newSVC(newProgram(ctxSvc, cancel), cfg)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		status, err := s.Status()
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NotEqual(t, service.StatusUnknown, status)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Start", func(t *testing.T) {
+		startCmd.SetContext(ctx)
+		err := startCmd.RunE(startCmd, []string{})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		running, err := waitForServiceStatus(service.StatusRunning, serviceStartTimeout)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.True(t, running)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Restart", func(t *testing.T) {
+		restartCmd.SetContext(ctx)
+		err := restartCmd.RunE(restartCmd, []string{})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		running, err := waitForServiceStatus(service.StatusRunning, serviceStartTimeout)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.True(t, running)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Reconfigure", func(t *testing.T) {
+		originalLogLevel := logLevel
+		logLevel = "debug"
+		defer func() {
+			logLevel = originalLogLevel
+		}()
+
+		reconfigureCmd.SetContext(ctx)
+		err := reconfigureCmd.RunE(reconfigureCmd, []string{})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		running, err := waitForServiceStatus(service.StatusRunning, serviceStartTimeout)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.True(t, running)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Stop", func(t *testing.T) {
+		stopCmd.SetContext(ctx)
+		err := stopCmd.RunE(stopCmd, []string{})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		stopped, err := waitForServiceStatus(service.StatusStopped, serviceStopTimeout)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.True(t, stopped)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("Uninstall", func(t *testing.T) {
+		uninstallCmd.SetContext(ctx)
+		err := uninstallCmd.RunE(uninstallCmd, []string{})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		cfg, err := newSVCConfig()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		ctxSvc, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+		defer cancel()
+
+		s, err := newSVC(newProgram(ctxSvc, cancel), cfg)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		_, err = s.Status()
+		assert.Error(t, err)
+	})
+}
--- a/client/cmd/service_test.go
+++ b/client/cmd/service_test.go
@@ -1,16 +1,12 @@
 package cmd

 import (
-	"context"
-	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
 	"runtime"
 	"syscall"
 	"testing"
-	"time"

-	"github.com/kardianos/service"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
@@ -31,186 +27,6 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	os.Exit(m.Run())
 }

-const (
-	serviceStartTimeout = 10 * time.Second
-	serviceStopTimeout  = 5 * time.Second
-	statusPollInterval  = 500 * time.Millisecond
-)
-
-// waitForServiceStatus waits for service to reach expected status with timeout
-func waitForServiceStatus(expectedStatus service.Status, timeout time.Duration) (bool, error) {
-	cfg, err := newSVCConfig()
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
-	}
-
-	ctxSvc, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	defer cancel()
-
-	s, err := newSVC(newProgram(ctxSvc, cancel), cfg)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false, err
-	}
-
-	ctx, timeoutCancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), timeout)
-	defer timeoutCancel()
-
-	ticker := time.NewTicker(statusPollInterval)
-	defer ticker.Stop()
-
-	for {
-		select {
-		case <-ctx.Done():
-			return false, fmt.Errorf("timeout waiting for service status %v", expectedStatus)
-		case <-ticker.C:
-			status, err := s.Status()
-			if err != nil {
-				// Continue polling on transient errors
-				continue
-			}
-			if status == expectedStatus {
-				return true, nil
-			}
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-// TestServiceLifecycle tests the complete service lifecycle
-func TestServiceLifecycle(t *testing.T) {
-	// TODO: Add support for Windows and macOS
-	if runtime.GOOS != "linux" && runtime.GOOS != "freebsd" {
-		t.Skipf("Skipping service lifecycle test on unsupported OS: %s", runtime.GOOS)
-	}
-
-	if os.Getenv("CONTAINER") == "true" {
-		t.Skip("Skipping service lifecycle test in container environment")
-	}
-
-	originalServiceName := serviceName
-	serviceName = "netbirdtest" + fmt.Sprintf("%d", time.Now().Unix())
-	defer func() {
-		serviceName = originalServiceName
-	}()
-
-	tempDir := t.TempDir()
-	configPath = fmt.Sprintf("%s/netbird-test-config.json", tempDir)
-	logLevel = "info"
-	daemonAddr = fmt.Sprintf("unix://%s/netbird-test.sock", tempDir)
-
-	// Ensure cleanup even if a subtest fails and Stop/Uninstall subtests don't run.
-	t.Cleanup(func() {
-		cfg, err := newSVCConfig()
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("cleanup: create service config: %v", err)
-			return
-		}
-		ctxSvc, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-		defer cancel()
-		s, err := newSVC(newProgram(ctxSvc, cancel), cfg)
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("cleanup: create service: %v", err)
-			return
-		}
-
-		// If the subtests already cleaned up, there's nothing to do.
-		if _, err := s.Status(); err != nil {
-			return
-		}
-
-		if err := s.Stop(); err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("cleanup: stop service: %v", err)
-		}
-		if err := s.Uninstall(); err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("cleanup: uninstall service: %v", err)
-		}
-	})
-
-	ctx := context.Background()
-
-	t.Run("Install", func(t *testing.T) {
-		installCmd.SetContext(ctx)
-		err := installCmd.RunE(installCmd, []string{})
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		cfg, err := newSVCConfig()
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		ctxSvc, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-		defer cancel()
-
-		s, err := newSVC(newProgram(ctxSvc, cancel), cfg)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		status, err := s.Status()
-		assert.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.NotEqual(t, service.StatusUnknown, status)
-	})
-
-	t.Run("Start", func(t *testing.T) {
-		startCmd.SetContext(ctx)
-		err := startCmd.RunE(startCmd, []string{})
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		running, err := waitForServiceStatus(service.StatusRunning, serviceStartTimeout)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.True(t, running)
-	})
-
-	t.Run("Restart", func(t *testing.T) {
-		restartCmd.SetContext(ctx)
-		err := restartCmd.RunE(restartCmd, []string{})
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		running, err := waitForServiceStatus(service.StatusRunning, serviceStartTimeout)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.True(t, running)
-	})
-
-	t.Run("Reconfigure", func(t *testing.T) {
-		originalLogLevel := logLevel
-		logLevel = "debug"
-		defer func() {
-			logLevel = originalLogLevel
-		}()
-
-		reconfigureCmd.SetContext(ctx)
-		err := reconfigureCmd.RunE(reconfigureCmd, []string{})
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		running, err := waitForServiceStatus(service.StatusRunning, serviceStartTimeout)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.True(t, running)
-	})
-
-	t.Run("Stop", func(t *testing.T) {
-		stopCmd.SetContext(ctx)
-		err := stopCmd.RunE(stopCmd, []string{})
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		stopped, err := waitForServiceStatus(service.StatusStopped, serviceStopTimeout)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.True(t, stopped)
-	})
-
-	t.Run("Uninstall", func(t *testing.T) {
-		uninstallCmd.SetContext(ctx)
-		err := uninstallCmd.RunE(uninstallCmd, []string{})
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		cfg, err := newSVCConfig()
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		ctxSvc, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-		defer cancel()
-
-		s, err := newSVC(newProgram(ctxSvc, cancel), cfg)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-
-		_, err = s.Status()
-		assert.Error(t, err)
-	})
-}
-
 // TestServiceEnvVars tests environment variable parsing
 func TestServiceEnvVars(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
--- a/client/cmd/status.go
+++ b/client/cmd/status.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"google.golang.org/grpc/status"

 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 	nbstatus "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/status"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/util"
@@ -111,11 +110,10 @@ func statusFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		return nil
 	}

-	pm := profilemanager.NewProfileManager()
-	var profName string
-	if activeProf, err := pm.GetActiveProfile(); err == nil {
-		profName = activeProf.Name
-	}
+	// Resolve the active profile's display name via the daemon, which runs
+	// as root and can read the per-user profile files. The local profile
+	// manager only knows the active profile ID, not its display name.
+	profName := getActiveProfileName(ctx)

 	var outputInformationHolder = nbstatus.ConvertToStatusOutputOverview(resp.GetFullStatus(), nbstatus.ConvertOptions{
 		Anonymize:            anonymizeFlag,
@@ -167,6 +165,25 @@ func getStatus(ctx context.Context, fullPeerStatus bool, shouldRunProbes bool) (
 	return resp, nil
 }

+// getActiveProfileName asks the daemon for the active profile's display
+// name. The daemon runs as root and can read the per-user profile files to
+// resolve the ID to its human-readable name. Returns an empty string on any
+// error so status output degrades gracefully.
+func getActiveProfileName(ctx context.Context) string {
+	conn, err := DialClientGRPCServer(ctx, daemonAddr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+
+	resp, err := proto.NewDaemonServiceClient(conn).GetActiveProfile(ctx, &proto.GetActiveProfileRequest{})
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+
+	return resp.GetProfileName()
+}
+
 func parseFilters() error {
 	switch strings.ToLower(statusFilter) {
 	case "", "idle", "connecting", "connected":
--- a/client/cmd/up.go
+++ b/client/cmd/up.go
@@ -128,16 +128,9 @@ func upFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	var profileSwitched bool
 	// switch profile if provided
 	if profileName != "" {
-		err = switchProfile(cmd.Context(), profileName, username.Username)
-		if err != nil {
+		if err := switchOrCreateProfile(cmd.Context(), pm, profileName, username.Username); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("switch profile: %v", err)
 		}
-
-		err = pm.SwitchProfile(profileName)
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("switch profile: %v", err)
-		}
-
 		profileSwitched = true
 	}

@@ -152,6 +145,52 @@ func upFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	return runInDaemonMode(ctx, cmd, pm, activeProf, profileSwitched)
 }

+// switchOrCreateProfile switches the active profile to the one identified by
+// handle, creating it first when it does not exist yet. This restores the
+// pre-0.73 behaviour where `netbird up --profile <name>` auto-creates a
+// missing profile instead of failing.
+func switchOrCreateProfile(ctx context.Context, pm *profilemanager.ProfileManager, handle, username string) error {
+	resolvedID, err := switchProfile(ctx, handle, username)
+	if err != nil {
+		st, ok := gstatus.FromError(err)
+		if !ok || st.Code() != codes.NotFound {
+			return err
+		}
+		// Don't fail immediately on a create error: a concurrent run may
+		// have created the profile between the NotFound above and this
+		// call, in which case the retried switch still succeeds. Only
+		// surface the create error if the switch also fails.
+		_, createErr := createProfile(ctx, handle, username)
+		if resolvedID, err = switchProfile(ctx, handle, username); err != nil {
+			if createErr != nil {
+				return fmt.Errorf("create profile: %w", createErr)
+			}
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+
+	if err := pm.SwitchProfile(resolvedID); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// createProfile dials the daemon and creates a new profile with the given
+// display name, returning its generated ID. Use addProfileOnDaemon directly
+// when a daemon client is already available to reuse the connection.
+func createProfile(ctx context.Context, profileName, username string) (profilemanager.ID, error) {
+	conn, err := DialClientGRPCServer(ctx, daemonAddr)
+	if err != nil {
+		//nolint
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to connect to daemon error: %v\n"+
+			"If the daemon is not running please run: "+
+			"\nnetbird service install \nnetbird service start\n", err)
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+
+	return addProfileOnDaemon(ctx, proto.NewDaemonServiceClient(conn), profileName, username)
+}
+
 func runInForegroundMode(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, activeProf *profilemanager.Profile) error {
 	// override the default profile filepath if provided
 	if configPath != "" {
@@ -190,7 +229,7 @@ func runInForegroundMode(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, activeProf *pr

 	_, _ = profilemanager.UpdateOldManagementURL(ctx, config, configFilePath)

-	err = foregroundLogin(ctx, cmd, config, providedSetupKey, activeProf.Name)
+	err = foregroundLogin(ctx, cmd, config, providedSetupKey, activeProf.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("foreground login failed: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -261,10 +300,10 @@ func runInDaemonMode(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, pm *profilemanager
 	}

 	// set the new config
-	req := setupSetConfigReq(customDNSAddressConverted, cmd, activeProf.Name, username.Username)
+	req := setupSetConfigReq(customDNSAddressConverted, cmd, activeProf.ID.String(), username.Username)
 	if _, err := client.SetConfig(ctx, req); err != nil {
 		if st, ok := gstatus.FromError(err); ok && st.Code() == codes.Unavailable {
-			log.Warnf("setConfig method is not available in the daemon")
+			log.Warnf("setConfig method is not available in the daemon: %s", st.Message())
 		} else {
 			return fmt.Errorf("call service setConfig method: %v", err)
 		}
@@ -289,10 +328,11 @@ func doDaemonUp(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, client proto.DaemonServ
 		return fmt.Errorf("setup login request: %v", err)
 	}

-	loginRequest.ProfileName = &activeProf.Name
+	profileID := activeProf.ID.String()
+	loginRequest.ProfileName = &profileID
 	loginRequest.Username = &username

-	profileState, err := pm.GetProfileState(activeProf.Name)
+	profileState, err := pm.GetProfileState(activeProf.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Debugf("failed to get profile state for login hint: %v", err)
 	} else if profileState.Email != "" {
@@ -329,7 +369,7 @@ func doDaemonUp(ctx context.Context, cmd *cobra.Command, client proto.DaemonServ
 	}

 	if _, err := client.Up(ctx, &proto.UpRequest{
-		ProfileName: &activeProf.Name,
+		ProfileName: &profileID,
 		Username:    &username,
 	}); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("call service up method: %v", err)
--- a/client/cmd/up_daemon_test.go
+++ b/client/cmd/up_daemon_test.go
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ func TestUpDaemon(t *testing.T) {
 	}

 	sm := profilemanager.ServiceManager{}
-	err = sm.AddProfile("test1", currUser.Username)
+	created, err := sm.AddProfile("test1", currUser.Username)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("failed to add profile: %v", err)
 		return
 	}

 	err = sm.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     "test1",
+		ID:       created.ID,
 		Username: currUser.Username,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
--- a/client/embed/embed.go
+++ b/client/embed/embed.go
@@ -279,9 +279,11 @@ func (c *Client) Start(startCtx context.Context) error {

 	select {
 	case <-startCtx.Done():
-		// Cancel the client context before stopping: Engine.Start blocks on the
-		// signal stream while holding the engine mutex and only unblocks on
-		// cancellation. Stopping first would deadlock on that mutex.
+		// ConnectClient.Stop now cancels its own run context and waits for the
+		// run loop to tear the engine down, so this cancel() is no longer
+		// required to break the deadlock and could be removed. It is kept as a
+		// defensive belt-and-suspenders: cancelling the parent context first
+		// guarantees the run loop is unblocked even if Stop's contract regresses.
 		cancel()
 		if stopErr := client.Stop(); stopErr != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("stop error after context done. Stop error: %w. Context done: %w", stopErr, startCtx.Err())
--- a/client/firewall/iptables/manager_linux_test.go
+++ b/client/firewall/iptables/manager_linux_test.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build privileged
+
 package iptables

 import (
--- a/client/firewall/iptables/router_linux_test.go
+++ b/client/firewall/iptables/router_linux_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//go:build !android
+//go:build !android && privileged

 package iptables

--- a/client/firewall/nftables/manager_linux_test.go
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/manager_linux_test.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build privileged
+
 package nftables

 import (
--- a/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux_test.go
+++ b/client/firewall/nftables/router_linux_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//go:build !android
+//go:build !android && privileged

 package nftables

--- a/client/iface/iface_test.go
+++ b/client/iface/iface_test.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build privileged
+
 package iface

 import (
--- a/client/iface/wgproxy/proxy_linux_test.go
+++ b/client/iface/wgproxy/proxy_linux_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//go:build linux && !android
+//go:build linux && !android && privileged

 package wgproxy

--- a/client/iface/wgproxy/proxy_seed_test.go
+++ b/client/iface/wgproxy/proxy_seed_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//go:build !linux
+//go:build !linux || !privileged

 package wgproxy

--- a/client/iface/wgproxy/redirect_test.go
+++ b/client/iface/wgproxy/redirect_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//go:build linux && !android
+//go:build linux && !android && privileged

 package wgproxy

@@ -26,64 +26,6 @@ func compareUDPAddr(addr1, addr2 net.Addr) bool {
 	return udpAddr1.IP.Equal(udpAddr2.IP) && udpAddr1.Port == udpAddr2.Port
 }

-// TestRedirectAs_eBPF_IPv4 tests RedirectAs with eBPF proxy using IPv4 addresses
-func TestRedirectAs_eBPF_IPv4(t *testing.T) {
-	wgPort := 51850
-	ebpfProxy := ebpf.NewWGEBPFProxy(wgPort, 1280)
-	if err := ebpfProxy.Listen(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to initialize ebpf proxy: %v", err)
-	}
-	defer func() {
-		if err := ebpfProxy.Free(); err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("failed to free ebpf proxy: %v", err)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	proxy := ebpf.NewProxyWrapper(ebpfProxy)
-
-	// NetBird UDP address of the remote peer
-	nbAddr := &net.UDPAddr{
-		IP:   net.ParseIP("100.108.111.177"),
-		Port: 38746,
-	}
-
-	p2pEndpoint := &net.UDPAddr{
-		IP:   net.ParseIP("192.168.0.56"),
-		Port: 51820,
-	}
-
-	testRedirectAs(t, proxy, wgPort, nbAddr, p2pEndpoint)
-}
-
-// TestRedirectAs_eBPF_IPv6 tests RedirectAs with eBPF proxy using IPv6 addresses
-func TestRedirectAs_eBPF_IPv6(t *testing.T) {
-	wgPort := 51851
-	ebpfProxy := ebpf.NewWGEBPFProxy(wgPort, 1280)
-	if err := ebpfProxy.Listen(); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to initialize ebpf proxy: %v", err)
-	}
-	defer func() {
-		if err := ebpfProxy.Free(); err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("failed to free ebpf proxy: %v", err)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	proxy := ebpf.NewProxyWrapper(ebpfProxy)
-
-	// NetBird UDP address of the remote peer
-	nbAddr := &net.UDPAddr{
-		IP:   net.ParseIP("100.108.111.177"),
-		Port: 38746,
-	}
-
-	p2pEndpoint := &net.UDPAddr{
-		IP:   net.ParseIP("fe80::56"),
-		Port: 51820,
-	}
-
-	testRedirectAs(t, proxy, wgPort, nbAddr, p2pEndpoint)
-}
-
 // TestRedirectAs_UDP_IPv4 tests RedirectAs with UDP proxy using IPv4 addresses
 func TestRedirectAs_UDP_IPv4(t *testing.T) {
 	wgPort := 51852
@@ -256,6 +198,64 @@ func testRedirectAs(t *testing.T, proxy Proxy, wgPort int, nbAddr, p2pEndpoint *
 	}
 }

+// TestRedirectAs_eBPF_IPv4 tests RedirectAs with eBPF proxy using IPv4 addresses
+func TestRedirectAs_eBPF_IPv4(t *testing.T) {
+	wgPort := 51850
+	ebpfProxy := ebpf.NewWGEBPFProxy(wgPort, 1280)
+	if err := ebpfProxy.Listen(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to initialize ebpf proxy: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if err := ebpfProxy.Free(); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("failed to free ebpf proxy: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	proxy := ebpf.NewProxyWrapper(ebpfProxy)
+
+	// NetBird UDP address of the remote peer
+	nbAddr := &net.UDPAddr{
+		IP:   net.ParseIP("100.108.111.177"),
+		Port: 38746,
+	}
+
+	p2pEndpoint := &net.UDPAddr{
+		IP:   net.ParseIP("192.168.0.56"),
+		Port: 51820,
+	}
+
+	testRedirectAs(t, proxy, wgPort, nbAddr, p2pEndpoint)
+}
+
+// TestRedirectAs_eBPF_IPv6 tests RedirectAs with eBPF proxy using IPv6 addresses
+func TestRedirectAs_eBPF_IPv6(t *testing.T) {
+	wgPort := 51851
+	ebpfProxy := ebpf.NewWGEBPFProxy(wgPort, 1280)
+	if err := ebpfProxy.Listen(); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to initialize ebpf proxy: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if err := ebpfProxy.Free(); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("failed to free ebpf proxy: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	proxy := ebpf.NewProxyWrapper(ebpfProxy)
+
+	// NetBird UDP address of the remote peer
+	nbAddr := &net.UDPAddr{
+		IP:   net.ParseIP("100.108.111.177"),
+		Port: 38746,
+	}
+
+	p2pEndpoint := &net.UDPAddr{
+		IP:   net.ParseIP("fe80::56"),
+		Port: 51820,
+	}
+
+	testRedirectAs(t, proxy, wgPort, nbAddr, p2pEndpoint)
+}
+
 // TestRedirectAs_Multiple_Switches tests switching between multiple endpoints
 func TestRedirectAs_Multiple_Switches(t *testing.T) {
 	wgPort := 51856
--- a/client/internal/connect.go
+++ b/client/internal/connect.go
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import (
 	"runtime/debug"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
+	"sync/atomic"
 	"time"

 	"github.com/cenkalti/backoff/v4"
@@ -54,6 +55,10 @@ var androidRunOverride func(c *ConnectClient, runningChan chan struct{}, logPath

 type ConnectClient struct {
 	ctx            context.Context
+	runCancel      context.CancelFunc
+	runExited      chan struct{}
+	runOnce        sync.Once
+	runStarted     atomic.Bool
 	config         *profilemanager.Config
 	statusRecorder *peer.Status

@@ -70,8 +75,14 @@ func NewConnectClient(
 	config *profilemanager.Config,
 	statusRecorder *peer.Status,
 ) *ConnectClient {
+	// Derive the run context here so Stop owns the cancel that unblocks the run
+	// loop. runCancel is set once at construction, so Stop can call it without
+	// racing the run loop's startup. Callers therefore need not cancel before Stop.
+	runCtx, runCancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	return &ConnectClient{
-		ctx:            ctx,
+		ctx:            runCtx,
+		runCancel:      runCancel,
+		runExited:      make(chan struct{}),
 		config:         config,
 		statusRecorder: statusRecorder,
 		engineMutex:    sync.Mutex{},
@@ -135,6 +146,11 @@ func (c *ConnectClient) RunOniOS(
 }

 func (c *ConnectClient) run(mobileDependency MobileDependency, runningChan chan struct{}, logPath string) error {
+	// Mark the loop as started and signal exit on return so Stop can wait for
+	// the loop to finish (and skip the wait if the loop never ran).
+	c.runStarted.Store(true)
+	defer c.runOnce.Do(func() { close(c.runExited) })
+
 	defer func() {
 		if r := recover(); r != nil {
 			rec := c.statusRecorder
@@ -290,7 +306,7 @@ func (c *ConnectClient) run(mobileDependency MobileDependency, runningChan chan
 			log.Debug(err)
 			if s, ok := gstatus.FromError(err); ok && (s.Code() == codes.PermissionDenied) {
 				state.Set(StatusNeedsLogin)
-				_ = c.Stop()
+				c.runCancel()
 				return backoff.Permanent(wrapErr(err)) // unrecoverable error
 			}
 			return wrapErr(err)
@@ -410,14 +426,10 @@ func (c *ConnectClient) run(mobileDependency MobileDependency, runningChan chan
 		c.engine = nil
 		c.engineMutex.Unlock()

-		// todo: consider to remove this condition. Is not thread safe.
-		// We should always call Stop(), but we need to verify that it is idempotent
-		if engine.wgInterface != nil {
-			log.Infof("ensuring %s is removed, Netbird engine context cancelled", engine.wgInterface.Name())
+		log.Infof("ensuring wg interface is removed, Netbird engine context cancelled")

-			if err := engine.Stop(); err != nil {
-				log.Errorf("Failed to stop engine: %v", err)
-			}
+		if err := engine.Stop(); err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("Failed to stop engine: %v", err)
 		}
 		c.statusRecorder.ClientTeardown()

@@ -433,12 +445,12 @@ func (c *ConnectClient) run(mobileDependency MobileDependency, runningChan chan
 	}

 	c.statusRecorder.ClientStart()
-	err = backoff.Retry(operation, backOff)
+	err = backoff.Retry(operation, backoff.WithContext(backOff, c.ctx))
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Debugf("exiting client retry loop due to unrecoverable error: %s", err)
 		if s, ok := gstatus.FromError(err); ok && (s.Code() == codes.PermissionDenied) {
 			state.Set(StatusNeedsLogin)
-			_ = c.Stop()
+			c.runCancel()
 		}
 		return err
 	}
@@ -516,11 +528,9 @@ func (c *ConnectClient) Status() StatusType {
 }

 func (c *ConnectClient) Stop() error {
-	engine := c.Engine()
-	if engine != nil {
-		if err := engine.Stop(); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("stop engine: %w", err)
-		}
+	c.runCancel()
+	if c.runStarted.Load() {
+		<-c.runExited
 	}
 	return nil
 }
--- a/client/internal/debug/debug_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/debug/debug_test.go
@@ -843,6 +843,7 @@ func TestAddConfig_AllFieldsCovered(t *testing.T) {
 		"PreSharedKey":      "sensitive: WireGuard pre-shared key",
 		"SSHKey":            "sensitive: SSH private key",
 		"ClientCertKeyPair": "non-config: parsed cert pair, not serialized",
+		"Name":              "non-config: profile name is not needed for debug purposes",
 		"policy":            "non-config: in-memory MDM policy snapshot, surfaced via Config.Policy() / GetConfigResponse.MDMManagedFields",
 	}

--- a/client/internal/dns/mgmt/mgmt.go
+++ b/client/internal/dns/mgmt/mgmt.go
@@ -51,13 +51,20 @@ type cachedRecord struct {
 }

 // Resolver caches critical NetBird infrastructure domains.
-// records, refreshing, mgmtDomain and serverDomains are all guarded by mutex.
+// records, refreshing, failedResolves, mgmtDomain and serverDomains are all
+// guarded by mutex.
 type Resolver struct {
 	records       map[dns.Question]*cachedRecord
 	mgmtDomain    *domain.Domain
 	serverDomains *dnsconfig.ServerDomains
 	mutex         sync.RWMutex

+	// failedResolves records the last failed initial resolve per domain so a
+	// domain that never resolves isn't retried on every server-domains update
+	// until refreshBackoff elapses. Entries are cleared on success and pruned
+	// to the current server-domains set.
+	failedResolves map[domain.Domain]time.Time
+
 	chain            ChainResolver
 	chainMaxPriority int
 	refreshGroup     singleflight.Group
@@ -76,9 +83,10 @@ type Resolver struct {
 // NewResolver creates a new management domains cache resolver.
 func NewResolver() *Resolver {
 	return &Resolver{
-		records:    make(map[dns.Question]*cachedRecord),
-		refreshing: make(map[dns.Question]*atomic.Bool),
-		cacheTTL:   resolveCacheTTL(),
+		records:        make(map[dns.Question]*cachedRecord),
+		refreshing:     make(map[dns.Question]*atomic.Bool),
+		failedResolves: make(map[domain.Domain]time.Time),
+		cacheTTL:       resolveCacheTTL(),
 	}
 }

@@ -173,7 +181,9 @@ func (m *Resolver) continueToNext(w dns.ResponseWriter, r *dns.Msg) {

 // AddDomain resolves a domain and stores its A/AAAA records in the cache.
 // A family that resolves NODATA (nil err, zero records) evicts any stale
-// entry for that qtype.
+// entry for that qtype. When one family hard-errors while the other succeeds,
+// the resolved family is still cached but AddDomain returns an error so the
+// caller retries the incomplete resolve rather than treating it as complete.
 func (m *Resolver) AddDomain(ctx context.Context, d domain.Domain) error {
 	dnsName := strings.ToLower(dns.Fqdn(d.PunycodeString()))

@@ -203,6 +213,10 @@ func (m *Resolver) AddDomain(ctx context.Context, d domain.Domain) error {
 	log.Debugf("added/updated domain=%s with %d A records and %d AAAA records",
 		d.SafeString(), len(aRecords), len(aaaaRecords))

+	if errA != nil || errAAAA != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("resolve %s: incomplete, a family failed: %w", d.SafeString(), errors.Join(errA, errAAAA))
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }

@@ -462,6 +476,7 @@ func (m *Resolver) RemoveDomain(d domain.Domain) error {
 	delete(m.records, qAAAA)
 	delete(m.refreshing, qA)
 	delete(m.refreshing, qAAAA)
+	delete(m.failedResolves, d)

 	log.Debugf("removed domain=%s from cache", d.SafeString())
 	return nil
@@ -505,6 +520,7 @@ func (m *Resolver) UpdateFromServerDomains(ctx context.Context, serverDomains dn
 		allDomains := m.extractDomainsFromServerDomains(updatedServerDomains)
 		currentDomains := m.GetCachedDomains()
 		removedDomains = m.removeStaleDomains(currentDomains, allDomains)
+		m.pruneFailedResolves(allDomains)
 	}

 	m.addNewDomains(ctx, newDomains)
@@ -577,13 +593,85 @@ func (m *Resolver) isManagementDomain(domain domain.Domain) bool {
 	return m.mgmtDomain != nil && domain == *m.mgmtDomain
 }

-// addNewDomains resolves and caches all domains from the update
+// addNewDomains resolves and caches domains that are not yet in the cache,
+// running the lookups concurrently. Domains already cached are skipped and left
+// to the stale-while-revalidate refresh path, so a sync never re-resolves them
+// synchronously: once NetBird owns the OS resolver the resolve runs through the
+// handler chain and would otherwise dial the managed upstreams under the engine
+// sync lock on every update.
 func (m *Resolver) addNewDomains(ctx context.Context, newDomains domain.List) {
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	seen := make(map[domain.Domain]struct{}, len(newDomains))
 	for _, newDomain := range newDomains {
-		if err := m.AddDomain(ctx, newDomain); err != nil {
-			log.Warnf("failed to add/update domain=%s: %v", newDomain.SafeString(), err)
-		} else {
-			log.Debugf("added/updated management cache domain=%s", newDomain.SafeString())
+		if _, dup := seen[newDomain]; dup {
+			continue
+		}
+		seen[newDomain] = struct{}{}
+
+		if !m.needsResolve(newDomain) {
+			continue
+		}
+
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func(d domain.Domain) {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			if err := m.AddDomain(ctx, d); err != nil {
+				m.markResolveFailed(d)
+				log.Warnf("failed to add/update domain=%s: %v", d.SafeString(), err)
+				return
+			}
+			m.clearResolveFailed(d)
+			log.Debugf("added/updated management cache domain=%s", d.SafeString())
+		}(newDomain)
+	}
+	wg.Wait()
+}
+
+// needsResolve reports whether d should be resolved now. A recent failed or
+// incomplete resolve gates retries on the backoff even when one family is
+// already cached, so a transiently-failed family is retried instead of being
+// treated as fully resolved. Otherwise a domain with any cached record is left
+// to the stale-while-revalidate refresh path.
+func (m *Resolver) needsResolve(d domain.Domain) bool {
+	dnsName := strings.ToLower(dns.Fqdn(d.PunycodeString()))
+
+	m.mutex.RLock()
+	defer m.mutex.RUnlock()
+
+	if failedAt, ok := m.failedResolves[d]; ok {
+		return time.Since(failedAt) >= refreshBackoff
+	}
+
+	for _, qtype := range []uint16{dns.TypeA, dns.TypeAAAA} {
+		q := dns.Question{Name: dnsName, Qtype: qtype, Qclass: dns.ClassINET}
+		if _, ok := m.records[q]; ok {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+func (m *Resolver) markResolveFailed(d domain.Domain) {
+	m.mutex.Lock()
+	m.failedResolves[d] = time.Now()
+	m.mutex.Unlock()
+}
+
+func (m *Resolver) clearResolveFailed(d domain.Domain) {
+	m.mutex.Lock()
+	delete(m.failedResolves, d)
+	m.mutex.Unlock()
+}
+
+// pruneFailedResolves drops failure markers for domains no longer present in
+// the server-domains set, keeping the map bounded to the current set (a
+// failed-only domain has no cached record, so RemoveDomain never sees it).
+func (m *Resolver) pruneFailedResolves(domains domain.List) {
+	m.mutex.Lock()
+	defer m.mutex.Unlock()
+	for d := range m.failedResolves {
+		if !slices.Contains(domains, d) {
+			delete(m.failedResolves, d)
 		}
 	}
 }
--- a/client/internal/dns/mgmt/mgmt_refresh_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/dns/mgmt/mgmt_refresh_test.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ type fakeChain struct {
 	mu       sync.Mutex
 	calls    map[string]int
 	answers  map[string][]dns.RR
+	qErr     map[string]error
 	err      error
 	hasRoot  bool
 	onLookup func()
@@ -30,6 +31,7 @@ func newFakeChain() *fakeChain {
 	return &fakeChain{
 		calls:   map[string]int{},
 		answers: map[string][]dns.RR{},
+		qErr:    map[string]error{},
 		hasRoot: true,
 	}
 }
@@ -47,6 +49,9 @@ func (f *fakeChain) ResolveInternal(ctx context.Context, msg *dns.Msg, maxPriori
 	f.calls[key]++
 	answers := f.answers[key]
 	err := f.err
+	if err == nil {
+		err = f.qErr[key]
+	}
 	onLookup := f.onLookup
 	f.mu.Unlock()

@@ -75,6 +80,12 @@ func (f *fakeChain) setAnswer(name string, qtype uint16, ip string) {
 	}
 }

+func (f *fakeChain) setErr(name string, qtype uint16, err error) {
+	f.mu.Lock()
+	defer f.mu.Unlock()
+	f.qErr[name+"|"+dns.TypeToString[qtype]] = err
+}
+
 func (f *fakeChain) callCount(name string, qtype uint16) int {
 	f.mu.Lock()
 	defer f.mu.Unlock()
--- a/client/internal/dns/mgmt/mgmt_resolve_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/dns/mgmt/mgmt_resolve_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,183 @@
+package mgmt
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/miekg/dns"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	dnsconfig "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/dns/config"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/domain"
+)
+
+// A domain already in the cache must not be re-resolved on a subsequent server
+// domains update; it is left to the stale-while-revalidate refresh path.
+func TestResolver_UpdateFromServerDomains_SkipsCached(t *testing.T) {
+	r := NewResolver()
+	chain := newFakeChain()
+	chain.setAnswer("signal.example.com.", dns.TypeA, "10.0.0.2")
+	r.SetChainResolver(chain, 50)
+
+	sd := dnsconfig.ServerDomains{Signal: domain.Domain("signal.example.com")}
+
+	_, err := r.UpdateFromServerDomains(context.Background(), sd)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, chain.callCount("signal.example.com.", dns.TypeA),
+		"first update must resolve the domain")
+
+	_, err = r.UpdateFromServerDomains(context.Background(), sd)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, chain.callCount("signal.example.com.", dns.TypeA),
+		"cached domain must not be re-resolved on a subsequent update")
+}
+
+// New domains in a single update must resolve concurrently rather than serially.
+func TestResolver_AddNewDomains_ResolvesConcurrently(t *testing.T) {
+	r := NewResolver()
+	chain := newFakeChain()
+
+	var inflight, maxInflight atomic.Int32
+	chain.onLookup = func() {
+		n := inflight.Add(1)
+		for {
+			old := maxInflight.Load()
+			if n <= old || maxInflight.CompareAndSwap(old, n) {
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond)
+		inflight.Add(-1)
+	}
+
+	relays := []domain.Domain{"a.example.com", "b.example.com", "c.example.com", "d.example.com"}
+	for _, d := range relays {
+		chain.setAnswer(dns.Fqdn(string(d)), dns.TypeA, "10.0.0.2")
+	}
+	r.SetChainResolver(chain, 50)
+
+	start := time.Now()
+	_, err := r.UpdateFromServerDomains(context.Background(), dnsconfig.ServerDomains{Relay: relays})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	elapsed := time.Since(start)
+
+	assert.GreaterOrEqual(t, int(maxInflight.Load()), 2, "domains must resolve concurrently")
+	// Serial resolution of 4 domains would take at least 4*50ms; concurrent is far less.
+	assert.Less(t, elapsed, 300*time.Millisecond, "resolution should not be serial")
+}
+
+// A domain that fails to resolve must not be retried on every update; the
+// failure backoff suppresses re-resolution until it expires.
+func TestResolver_UpdateFromServerDomains_BacksOffFailures(t *testing.T) {
+	r := NewResolver()
+	chain := newFakeChain()
+	chain.err = errors.New("resolve boom")
+	r.SetChainResolver(chain, 50)
+
+	sd := dnsconfig.ServerDomains{Signal: domain.Domain("signal.example.com")}
+
+	_, err := r.UpdateFromServerDomains(context.Background(), sd)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.Equal(t, 1, chain.callCount("signal.example.com.", dns.TypeA),
+		"first update must attempt the resolve")
+
+	_, err = r.UpdateFromServerDomains(context.Background(), sd)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, chain.callCount("signal.example.com.", dns.TypeA),
+		"failed resolve must back off and not retry on the next update")
+}
+
+// A domain listed under more than one server-domain type (e.g. STUN and TURN on
+// the same host) must be resolved once per update, not once per occurrence.
+func TestResolver_AddNewDomains_DedupesDuplicateDomains(t *testing.T) {
+	r := NewResolver()
+	chain := newFakeChain()
+	chain.setAnswer("dup.example.com.", dns.TypeA, "10.0.0.9")
+	r.SetChainResolver(chain, 50)
+
+	sd := dnsconfig.ServerDomains{
+		Stuns: []domain.Domain{"dup.example.com"},
+		Turns: []domain.Domain{"dup.example.com"},
+	}
+
+	_, err := r.UpdateFromServerDomains(context.Background(), sd)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 1, chain.callCount("dup.example.com.", dns.TypeA),
+		"a domain appearing under multiple server-domain types must resolve once")
+}
+
+// A failure marker must be dropped once its domain leaves the server-domains set
+// so the map stays bounded to the current set.
+func TestResolver_UpdateFromServerDomains_PrunesFailedResolves(t *testing.T) {
+	r := NewResolver()
+	chain := newFakeChain()
+	chain.err = errors.New("resolve boom")
+	r.SetChainResolver(chain, 50)
+
+	_, err := r.UpdateFromServerDomains(context.Background(), dnsconfig.ServerDomains{Signal: domain.Domain("gone.example.com")})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	r.mutex.RLock()
+	_, marked := r.failedResolves[domain.Domain("gone.example.com")]
+	r.mutex.RUnlock()
+	require.True(t, marked, "failed resolve must be recorded")
+
+	_, err = r.UpdateFromServerDomains(context.Background(), dnsconfig.ServerDomains{Signal: domain.Domain("other.example.com")})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	r.mutex.RLock()
+	_, stillMarked := r.failedResolves[domain.Domain("gone.example.com")]
+	r.mutex.RUnlock()
+	assert.False(t, stillMarked, "failure marker for a domain no longer in the set must be pruned")
+}
+
+// When one family hard-errors while the other resolves, the domain is cached
+// for the working family but recorded as incomplete so the failed family is
+// retried under backoff instead of being treated as fully resolved forever.
+func TestResolver_AddNewDomains_RetriesPartialFamilyFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	d := domain.Domain("relay.example.com")
+	r := NewResolver()
+	chain := newFakeChain()
+	chain.setAnswer("relay.example.com.", dns.TypeA, "10.0.0.2")
+	chain.setErr("relay.example.com.", dns.TypeAAAA, errors.New("servfail"))
+	r.SetChainResolver(chain, 50)
+
+	_, err := r.UpdateFromServerDomains(context.Background(), dnsconfig.ServerDomains{Relay: []domain.Domain{d}})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	r.mutex.RLock()
+	_, aCached := r.records[dns.Question{Name: "relay.example.com.", Qtype: dns.TypeA, Qclass: dns.ClassINET}]
+	_, marked := r.failedResolves[d]
+	r.mutex.RUnlock()
+	require.True(t, aCached, "the working family must still be cached")
+	require.True(t, marked, "a partial failure must be recorded so the failed family is retried")
+
+	assert.False(t, r.needsResolve(d), "within the backoff window the domain is not retried")
+
+	r.mutex.Lock()
+	r.failedResolves[d] = time.Now().Add(-2 * refreshBackoff)
+	r.mutex.Unlock()
+	assert.True(t, r.needsResolve(d), "after the backoff elapses the domain is retried to pick up the missing family")
+}
+
+// A family that returns NODATA (legitimately absent, e.g. an IPv4-only host) is
+// not a failure: the domain must not be marked for retry, otherwise it would be
+// re-resolved on every sync.
+func TestResolver_AddNewDomains_NodataIsNotFailure(t *testing.T) {
+	d := domain.Domain("v4only.example.com")
+	r := NewResolver()
+	chain := newFakeChain()
+	chain.setAnswer("v4only.example.com.", dns.TypeA, "10.0.0.2")
+	r.SetChainResolver(chain, 50)
+
+	_, err := r.UpdateFromServerDomains(context.Background(), dnsconfig.ServerDomains{Relay: []domain.Domain{d}})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	r.mutex.RLock()
+	_, marked := r.failedResolves[d]
+	r.mutex.RUnlock()
+	assert.False(t, marked, "a NODATA family must not be recorded as a failure")
+	assert.False(t, r.needsResolve(d), "an IPv4-only host must not be re-resolved on later syncs")
+}
--- a/client/internal/dns/resutil/resolve.go
+++ b/client/internal/dns/resutil/resolve.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"net"
 	"net/netip"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"

 	"github.com/miekg/dns"
@@ -167,7 +168,10 @@ func getRcodeForNotFound(ctx context.Context, r resolver, domain string, origina
 	case dns.TypeA:
 		alternativeNetwork = "ip6"
 	default:
-		return dns.RcodeNameError
+		// Non-address types reach LookupIP only unexpectedly; without an
+		// address pair to probe we cannot prove the name is absent, so answer
+		// NODATA rather than a poisoning NXDOMAIN.
+		return dns.RcodeSuccess
 	}

 	if _, err := r.LookupNetIP(ctx, alternativeNetwork, domain); err != nil {
@@ -184,6 +188,230 @@ func getRcodeForNotFound(ctx context.Context, r resolver, domain string, origina
 	return dns.RcodeSuccess
 }

+// RecordResolver is the host resolver surface used to forward non-address
+// record queries. net.DefaultResolver satisfies it.
+type RecordResolver interface {
+	LookupMX(ctx context.Context, name string) ([]*net.MX, error)
+	LookupTXT(ctx context.Context, name string) ([]string, error)
+	LookupNS(ctx context.Context, name string) ([]*net.NS, error)
+	LookupSRV(ctx context.Context, service, proto, name string) (string, []*net.SRV, error)
+	LookupCNAME(ctx context.Context, host string) (string, error)
+	LookupAddr(ctx context.Context, addr string) ([]string, error)
+}
+
+// LookupRecords resolves a non-address DNS record type through the host
+// resolver and returns the resource records and the DNS rcode. Types the host
+// resolver cannot answer (anything not covered by the net.Resolver Lookup*
+// methods) yield NODATA so that a routed name is never poisoned with NXDOMAIN
+// for an unsupported type.
+func LookupRecords(ctx context.Context, r RecordResolver, name string, qtype uint16, ttl uint32) ([]dns.RR, int) {
+	fqdn := dns.Fqdn(name)
+
+	switch qtype {
+	case dns.TypeMX:
+		return lookupMX(ctx, r, name, fqdn, ttl)
+	case dns.TypeTXT:
+		return lookupTXT(ctx, r, name, fqdn, ttl)
+	case dns.TypeNS:
+		return lookupNS(ctx, r, name, fqdn, ttl)
+	case dns.TypeSRV:
+		return lookupSRV(ctx, r, name, fqdn, ttl)
+	case dns.TypeCNAME:
+		return lookupCNAME(ctx, r, name, fqdn, ttl)
+	case dns.TypePTR:
+		return lookupPTR(ctx, r, name, fqdn, ttl)
+	default:
+		return nil, dns.RcodeSuccess
+	}
+}
+
+func recordHeader(fqdn string, rrtype uint16, ttl uint32) dns.RR_Header {
+	return dns.RR_Header{Name: fqdn, Rrtype: rrtype, Class: dns.ClassINET, Ttl: ttl}
+}
+
+func lookupMX(ctx context.Context, r RecordResolver, name, fqdn string, ttl uint32) ([]dns.RR, int) {
+	recs, err := r.LookupMX(ctx, name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, rcodeForRecordError(err)
+	}
+	rrs := make([]dns.RR, 0, len(recs))
+	for _, mx := range recs {
+		rrs = append(rrs, &dns.MX{
+			Hdr:        recordHeader(fqdn, dns.TypeMX, ttl),
+			Preference: mx.Pref,
+			Mx:         dns.Fqdn(mx.Host),
+		})
+	}
+	return rrs, dns.RcodeSuccess
+}
+
+func lookupTXT(ctx context.Context, r RecordResolver, name, fqdn string, ttl uint32) ([]dns.RR, int) {
+	recs, err := r.LookupTXT(ctx, name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, rcodeForRecordError(err)
+	}
+	rrs := make([]dns.RR, 0, len(recs))
+	for _, txt := range recs {
+		rrs = append(rrs, &dns.TXT{
+			Hdr: recordHeader(fqdn, dns.TypeTXT, ttl),
+			Txt: chunkTXT(txt),
+		})
+	}
+	return rrs, dns.RcodeSuccess
+}
+
+func lookupNS(ctx context.Context, r RecordResolver, name, fqdn string, ttl uint32) ([]dns.RR, int) {
+	recs, err := r.LookupNS(ctx, name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, rcodeForRecordError(err)
+	}
+	rrs := make([]dns.RR, 0, len(recs))
+	for _, ns := range recs {
+		rrs = append(rrs, &dns.NS{
+			Hdr: recordHeader(fqdn, dns.TypeNS, ttl),
+			Ns:  dns.Fqdn(ns.Host),
+		})
+	}
+	return rrs, dns.RcodeSuccess
+}
+
+func lookupSRV(ctx context.Context, r RecordResolver, name, fqdn string, ttl uint32) ([]dns.RR, int) {
+	_, recs, err := r.LookupSRV(ctx, "", "", name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, rcodeForRecordError(err)
+	}
+	rrs := make([]dns.RR, 0, len(recs))
+	for _, srv := range recs {
+		rrs = append(rrs, &dns.SRV{
+			Hdr:      recordHeader(fqdn, dns.TypeSRV, ttl),
+			Priority: srv.Priority,
+			Weight:   srv.Weight,
+			Port:     srv.Port,
+			Target:   dns.Fqdn(srv.Target),
+		})
+	}
+	return rrs, dns.RcodeSuccess
+}
+
+func lookupCNAME(ctx context.Context, r RecordResolver, name, fqdn string, ttl uint32) ([]dns.RR, int) {
+	cname, err := r.LookupCNAME(ctx, name)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, rcodeForRecordError(err)
+	}
+	// LookupCNAME returns the queried name itself when the name resolves but
+	// has no CNAME record; that is a NODATA result, not a CNAME.
+	if strings.EqualFold(dns.Fqdn(cname), fqdn) {
+		return nil, dns.RcodeSuccess
+	}
+	return []dns.RR{&dns.CNAME{
+		Hdr:    recordHeader(fqdn, dns.TypeCNAME, ttl),
+		Target: dns.Fqdn(cname),
+	}}, dns.RcodeSuccess
+}
+
+func lookupPTR(ctx context.Context, r RecordResolver, name, fqdn string, ttl uint32) ([]dns.RR, int) {
+	addr, ok := ptrQueryAddr(name)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil, dns.RcodeSuccess
+	}
+	names, err := r.LookupAddr(ctx, addr)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, rcodeForRecordError(err)
+	}
+	rrs := make([]dns.RR, 0, len(names))
+	for _, n := range names {
+		rrs = append(rrs, &dns.PTR{
+			Hdr: recordHeader(fqdn, dns.TypePTR, ttl),
+			Ptr: dns.Fqdn(n),
+		})
+	}
+	return rrs, dns.RcodeSuccess
+}
+
+// ptrQueryAddr converts a reverse-DNS query name (in-addr.arpa or ip6.arpa)
+// into the address string expected by net.Resolver.LookupAddr. It reports false
+// when the name is not a well-formed reverse name.
+func ptrQueryAddr(qname string) (string, bool) {
+	name := strings.TrimSuffix(strings.ToLower(dns.Fqdn(qname)), ".")
+
+	switch {
+	case strings.HasSuffix(name, ".in-addr.arpa"):
+		return parseInAddrArpa(strings.TrimSuffix(name, ".in-addr.arpa"))
+	case strings.HasSuffix(name, ".ip6.arpa"):
+		return parseIP6Arpa(strings.TrimSuffix(name, ".ip6.arpa"))
+	default:
+		return "", false
+	}
+}
+
+// parseInAddrArpa turns the label portion of an in-addr.arpa name into an IPv4
+// address string, reporting false when it is not a well-formed reverse name.
+func parseInAddrArpa(labelPart string) (string, bool) {
+	labels := strings.Split(labelPart, ".")
+	if len(labels) != 4 {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	slices.Reverse(labels)
+	addr, err := netip.ParseAddr(strings.Join(labels, "."))
+	if err != nil || !addr.Is4() {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	return addr.String(), true
+}
+
+// parseIP6Arpa turns the nibble portion of an ip6.arpa name into an IPv6
+// address string, reporting false when it is not a well-formed reverse name.
+func parseIP6Arpa(nibblePart string) (string, bool) {
+	nibbles := strings.Split(nibblePart, ".")
+	if len(nibbles) != 32 {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	slices.Reverse(nibbles)
+	var sb strings.Builder
+	for i, n := range nibbles {
+		if i > 0 && i%4 == 0 {
+			sb.WriteByte(':')
+		}
+		sb.WriteString(n)
+	}
+	addr, err := netip.ParseAddr(sb.String())
+	if err != nil || !addr.Is6() {
+		return "", false
+	}
+	return addr.String(), true
+}
+
+// rcodeForRecordError maps a non-address lookup error to a DNS rcode. A
+// not-found result becomes NODATA rather than NXDOMAIN: net.DNSError.IsNotFound
+// does not distinguish a missing name from a name that exists only with records
+// of other types, so the name cannot be proven absent and must not be poisoned.
+func rcodeForRecordError(err error) int {
+	var dnsErr *net.DNSError
+	if errors.As(err, &dnsErr) && dnsErr.IsNotFound {
+		return dns.RcodeSuccess
+	}
+	return dns.RcodeServerFailure
+}
+
+// chunkTXT splits a TXT string into character-strings no longer than 255 bytes
+// so the record can be packed. The chunks form one TXT resource record.
+func chunkTXT(s string) []string {
+	const maxLen = 255
+	if len(s) <= maxLen {
+		return []string{s}
+	}
+
+	var chunks []string
+	for len(s) > maxLen {
+		chunks = append(chunks, s[:maxLen])
+		s = s[maxLen:]
+	}
+	if len(s) > 0 {
+		chunks = append(chunks, s)
+	}
+	return chunks
+}
+
 // FormatAnswers formats DNS resource records for logging.
 func FormatAnswers(answers []dns.RR) string {
 	if len(answers) == 0 {
@@ -207,3 +435,35 @@ func FormatAnswers(answers []dns.RR) string {
 	}
 	return "[" + strings.Join(parts, ", ") + "]"
 }
+
+// StripOPT removes any OPT pseudo-RRs from the message's Extra section. Per
+// RFC 6891 a responder must not include an OPT RR toward a client that did not
+// advertise EDNS0.
+func StripOPT(msg *dns.Msg) {
+	if len(msg.Extra) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	out := msg.Extra[:0]
+	for _, rr := range msg.Extra {
+		if _, ok := rr.(*dns.OPT); ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		out = append(out, rr)
+	}
+	msg.Extra = out
+}
+
+// ExtractEDE returns the first Extended DNS Error (RFC 8914) option carried in
+// the message, if present.
+func ExtractEDE(msg *dns.Msg) (*dns.EDNS0_EDE, bool) {
+	opt := msg.IsEdns0()
+	if opt == nil {
+		return nil, false
+	}
+	for _, o := range opt.Option {
+		if ede, ok := o.(*dns.EDNS0_EDE); ok {
+			return ede, true
+		}
+	}
+	return nil, false
+}
--- a/client/internal/dns/resutil/resolve_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/dns/resutil/resolve_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"net"
 	"net/netip"
+	"strings"
 	"testing"

 	"github.com/miekg/dns"
@@ -120,3 +121,200 @@ func TestLookupIP_DNSErrorNotIsNotFound(t *testing.T) {

 	assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeServerFailure, result.Rcode, "upstream failure should map to SERVFAIL")
 }
+
+func TestPtrQueryAddr(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		qname  string
+		want   string
+		wantOK bool
+	}{
+		{name: "ipv4", qname: "4.3.2.1.in-addr.arpa.", want: "1.2.3.4", wantOK: true},
+		{name: "ipv4 no trailing dot", qname: "1.0.0.127.in-addr.arpa", want: "127.0.0.1", wantOK: true},
+		{
+			name:   "ipv6",
+			qname:  "1.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.8.b.d.0.1.0.0.2.ip6.arpa.",
+			want:   "2001:db8::1",
+			wantOK: true,
+		},
+		{name: "ipv4 wrong label count", qname: "2.1.in-addr.arpa.", wantOK: false},
+		{name: "ipv6 wrong nibble count", qname: "1.0.ip6.arpa.", wantOK: false},
+		{name: "not a reverse name", qname: "example.com.", wantOK: false},
+		{name: "ipv4 bad octet", qname: "4.3.2.999.in-addr.arpa.", wantOK: false},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got, ok := ptrQueryAddr(tt.qname)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantOK, ok, "parse success mismatch")
+			if tt.wantOK {
+				assert.Equal(t, tt.want, got, "parsed address mismatch")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+type mockRecordResolver struct {
+	mx    []*net.MX
+	txt   []string
+	ns    []*net.NS
+	srv   []*net.SRV
+	cname string
+	ptr   []string
+	err   error
+}
+
+func (m *mockRecordResolver) LookupMX(context.Context, string) ([]*net.MX, error) {
+	return m.mx, m.err
+}
+func (m *mockRecordResolver) LookupTXT(context.Context, string) ([]string, error) {
+	return m.txt, m.err
+}
+func (m *mockRecordResolver) LookupNS(context.Context, string) ([]*net.NS, error) {
+	return m.ns, m.err
+}
+func (m *mockRecordResolver) LookupSRV(context.Context, string, string, string) (string, []*net.SRV, error) {
+	return "", m.srv, m.err
+}
+func (m *mockRecordResolver) LookupCNAME(context.Context, string) (string, error) {
+	return m.cname, m.err
+}
+func (m *mockRecordResolver) LookupAddr(context.Context, string) ([]string, error) {
+	return m.ptr, m.err
+}
+
+func TestLookupRecords(t *testing.T) {
+	notFound := &net.DNSError{IsNotFound: true, Name: "example.com."}
+
+	t.Run("MX success", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{mx: []*net.MX{{Host: "mail.example.com.", Pref: 10}}}
+		rrs, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "example.com.", dns.TypeMX, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode)
+		require.Len(t, rrs, 1)
+		assert.Equal(t, "mail.example.com.", rrs[0].(*dns.MX).Mx)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("TXT short string is one character-string", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{txt: []string{"v=spf1 -all"}}
+		rrs, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "example.com.", dns.TypeTXT, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode)
+		require.Len(t, rrs, 1)
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"v=spf1 -all"}, rrs[0].(*dns.TXT).Txt)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("TXT chunks long strings", func(t *testing.T) {
+		long := strings.Repeat("a", 300)
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{txt: []string{long}}
+		rrs, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "example.com.", dns.TypeTXT, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode)
+		require.Len(t, rrs, 1)
+		txt := rrs[0].(*dns.TXT).Txt
+		require.Len(t, txt, 2, "300-byte string should split into two character-strings")
+		assert.Equal(t, 255, len(txt[0]))
+		assert.Equal(t, 45, len(txt[1]))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("NS success", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{ns: []*net.NS{{Host: "ns1.example.com."}}}
+		rrs, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "example.com.", dns.TypeNS, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode)
+		require.Len(t, rrs, 1)
+		assert.Equal(t, "ns1.example.com.", rrs[0].(*dns.NS).Ns)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("SRV success", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{srv: []*net.SRV{{Target: "sip.example.com.", Port: 5060}}}
+		rrs, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "_sip._tcp.example.com.", dns.TypeSRV, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode)
+		require.Len(t, rrs, 1)
+		assert.Equal(t, uint16(5060), rrs[0].(*dns.SRV).Port)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("CNAME success", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{cname: "target.example.com."}
+		rrs, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "www.example.com.", dns.TypeCNAME, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode)
+		require.Len(t, rrs, 1)
+		assert.Equal(t, "target.example.com.", rrs[0].(*dns.CNAME).Target)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("CNAME equal to name is NODATA", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{cname: "example.com."}
+		rrs, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "example.com.", dns.TypeCNAME, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode)
+		assert.Empty(t, rrs, "self-referential CNAME is NODATA")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("PTR success", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{ptr: []string{"host.example.com."}}
+		rrs, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "4.3.2.1.in-addr.arpa.", dns.TypePTR, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode)
+		require.Len(t, rrs, 1)
+		assert.Equal(t, "host.example.com.", rrs[0].(*dns.PTR).Ptr)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("PTR malformed name is NODATA", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{}
+		rrs, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "example.com.", dns.TypePTR, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode)
+		assert.Empty(t, rrs)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("not found is NODATA never NXDOMAIN", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{err: notFound}
+		_, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "example.com.", dns.TypeMX, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode, "missing record must not poison the name")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("server failure maps to SERVFAIL", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{err: &net.DNSError{Err: "server misbehaving", IsTemporary: true}}
+		_, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "example.com.", dns.TypeMX, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeServerFailure, rcode)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("unsupported type is NODATA", func(t *testing.T) {
+		r := &mockRecordResolver{}
+		rrs, rcode := LookupRecords(context.Background(), r, "example.com.", dns.TypeCAA, 300)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, rcode)
+		assert.Empty(t, rrs)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestStripOPT(t *testing.T) {
+	rm := &dns.Msg{
+		Extra: []dns.RR{
+			&dns.OPT{Hdr: dns.RR_Header{Name: ".", Rrtype: dns.TypeOPT}},
+			&dns.A{Hdr: dns.RR_Header{Name: "x.", Rrtype: dns.TypeA}, A: net.IPv4(1, 2, 3, 4)},
+		},
+	}
+	StripOPT(rm)
+	assert.Len(t, rm.Extra, 1, "OPT should be removed, A kept")
+	_, isOPT := rm.Extra[0].(*dns.OPT)
+	assert.False(t, isOPT, "remaining record must not be OPT")
+}
+
+func TestExtractEDE(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Run("no edns", func(t *testing.T) {
+		_, ok := ExtractEDE(&dns.Msg{})
+		assert.False(t, ok, "message without OPT has no EDE")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("edns without ede", func(t *testing.T) {
+		rm := &dns.Msg{}
+		rm.SetEdns0(4096, false)
+		_, ok := ExtractEDE(rm)
+		assert.False(t, ok, "OPT without EDE option returns false")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("with ede", func(t *testing.T) {
+		rm := &dns.Msg{}
+		opt := &dns.OPT{Hdr: dns.RR_Header{Name: ".", Rrtype: dns.TypeOPT}}
+		opt.Option = append(opt.Option, &dns.EDNS0_EDE{InfoCode: 49152, ExtraText: "upstream timeout"})
+		rm.Extra = append(rm.Extra, opt)
+
+		ede, ok := ExtractEDE(rm)
+		assert.True(t, ok, "EDE option should be found")
+		assert.Equal(t, uint16(49152), ede.InfoCode)
+		assert.Equal(t, "upstream timeout", ede.ExtraText)
+	})
+}
--- a/client/internal/dns/server.go
+++ b/client/internal/dns/server.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"net/netip"
 	"net/url"
+	"os"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
@@ -38,11 +39,15 @@ const (
 	// defaultWarningDelayBase is the starting grace window before a
 	// "Nameserver group unreachable" event fires for a group that's
 	// never been healthy and only has overlay upstreams with no
-	// Connected peer. Per-server and overridable; see warningDelayFor.
-	defaultWarningDelayBase = 30 * time.Second
+	// Connected peer. Per-server and overridable via envWarningDelay;
+	// see warningDelay.
+	defaultWarningDelayBase = 60 * time.Second
 	// warningDelayBonusCap caps the route-count bonus added to the
-	// base grace window. See warningDelayFor.
+	// base grace window. See warningDelay.
 	warningDelayBonusCap = 30 * time.Second
+	// envWarningDelay overrides defaultWarningDelayBase with a Go duration
+	// string (e.g. "90s", "2m"). Invalid or non-positive values are ignored.
+	envWarningDelay = "NB_DNS_HEALTH_WARNING_DELAY"
 )

 // errNoUsableNameservers signals that a merged-domain group has no usable
@@ -135,7 +140,7 @@ type DefaultServer struct {
 	disableSys         bool
 	mux                sync.Mutex
 	service            service
-	dnsMuxMap          registeredHandlerMap
+	dnsMuxHandlers     []handlerWrapper
 	localResolver      *local.Resolver
 	wgInterface        WGIface
 	hostManager        hostManager
@@ -199,8 +204,6 @@ type handlerWrapper struct {
 	priority int
 }

-type registeredHandlerMap map[types.HandlerID]handlerWrapper
-
 // DefaultServerConfig holds configuration parameters for NewDefaultServer
 type DefaultServerConfig struct {
 	WgInterface    WGIface
@@ -289,7 +292,6 @@ func newDefaultServer(
 		service:           dnsService,
 		handlerChain:      handlerChain,
 		extraDomains:      make(map[domain.Domain]int),
-		dnsMuxMap:         make(registeredHandlerMap),
 		localResolver:     local.NewResolver(),
 		wgInterface:       wgInterface,
 		statusRecorder:    statusRecorder,
@@ -298,7 +300,7 @@ func newDefaultServer(
 		hostManager:       &noopHostConfigurator{},
 		mgmtCacheResolver: mgmtCacheResolver,
 		currentConfigHash: ^uint64(0), // Initialize to max uint64 to ensure first config is always applied
-		warningDelayBase:  defaultWarningDelayBase,
+		warningDelayBase:  warningDelayBaseFromEnv(),
 		healthRefresh:     make(chan struct{}, 1),
 	}
 	// Wire the local resolver against the peer status recorder so it can
@@ -328,7 +330,7 @@ func (s *DefaultServer) SetRouteSources(selected, active func() route.HAMap) {
 	type routeSettable interface {
 		setSelectedRoutes(func() route.HAMap)
 	}
-	for _, entry := range s.dnsMuxMap {
+	for _, entry := range s.dnsMuxHandlers {
 		if h, ok := entry.handler.(routeSettable); ok {
 			h.setSelectedRoutes(selected)
 		}
@@ -978,19 +980,23 @@ func (s *DefaultServer) usableNameServers(nameServers []nbdns.NameServer) []neti

 func (s *DefaultServer) updateMux(muxUpdates []handlerWrapper) {
 	// this will introduce a short period of time when the server is not able to handle DNS requests
-	for _, existing := range s.dnsMuxMap {
+	for _, existing := range s.dnsMuxHandlers {
 		s.deregisterHandler([]string{existing.domain}, existing.priority)
-		existing.handler.Stop()
+		// The local resolver is a persistent singleton shared by every custom
+		// zone and reused across config updates. Its chain registrations are
+		// per-config and must be deregistered, but Stop() cancels its lookup
+		// context (breaking external CNAME-target resolution) and clears its
+		// records, so it must not be torn down here.
+		if existing.handler != s.localResolver {
+			existing.handler.Stop()
+		}
 	}

-	muxUpdateMap := make(registeredHandlerMap)
-
 	for _, update := range muxUpdates {
 		s.registerHandler([]string{update.domain}, update.handler, update.priority)
-		muxUpdateMap[update.handler.ID()] = update
 	}

-	s.dnsMuxMap = muxUpdateMap
+	s.dnsMuxHandlers = muxUpdates
 }

 // updateNSGroupStates records the new group set and pokes the refresher.
@@ -1154,6 +1160,26 @@ func (s *DefaultServer) projectUnhealthy(p *nsGroupProj, servers []netip.AddrPor
 	return false
 }

+// warningDelayBaseFromEnv returns the base grace window, honoring
+// envWarningDelay when it holds a valid positive Go duration. Invalid or
+// non-positive values fall back to defaultWarningDelayBase.
+func warningDelayBaseFromEnv() time.Duration {
+	val := os.Getenv(envWarningDelay)
+	if val == "" {
+		return defaultWarningDelayBase
+	}
+	d, err := time.ParseDuration(val)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("invalid %s value %q, using default %v: %v", envWarningDelay, val, defaultWarningDelayBase, err)
+		return defaultWarningDelayBase
+	}
+	if d <= 0 {
+		log.Warnf("%s must be positive, got %v, using default %v", envWarningDelay, d, defaultWarningDelayBase)
+		return defaultWarningDelayBase
+	}
+	return d
+}
+
 // warningDelay returns the grace window for the given selected-route
 // count. Scales gently: +1s per 100 routes, capped by
 // warningDelayBonusCap. Parallel handshakes mean handshake time grows
@@ -1204,7 +1230,7 @@ func (s *DefaultServer) groupHasImmediateUpstream(servers []netip.AddrPort, snap
 // in more than one handler.
 func (s *DefaultServer) collectUpstreamHealth() map[netip.AddrPort]UpstreamHealth {
 	merged := make(map[netip.AddrPort]UpstreamHealth)
-	for _, entry := range s.dnsMuxMap {
+	for _, entry := range s.dnsMuxHandlers {
 		reporter, ok := entry.handler.(upstreamHealthReporter)
 		if !ok {
 			continue
--- a/client/internal/dns/server_privileged_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/dns/server_privileged_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,485 @@
+//go:build privileged
+
+package dns
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/netip"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
+	"github.com/miekg/dns"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/wgctrl/wgtypes"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface"
+	pfmock "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/mocks"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/wgaddr"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/dns/local"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/dns/test"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/stdnet"
+	nbdns "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/dns"
+)
+
+func TestUpdateDNSServer(t *testing.T) {
+
+	nameServers := []nbdns.NameServer{
+		{
+			IP:     netip.MustParseAddr("8.8.8.8"),
+			NSType: nbdns.UDPNameServerType,
+			Port:   53,
+		},
+		{
+			IP:     netip.MustParseAddr("8.8.4.4"),
+			NSType: nbdns.UDPNameServerType,
+			Port:   53,
+		},
+	}
+
+	testCases := []struct {
+		name                string
+		initUpstreamMap     []handlerWrapper
+		initLocalZones      []nbdns.CustomZone
+		initSerial          uint64
+		inputSerial         uint64
+		inputUpdate         nbdns.Config
+		shouldFail          bool
+		expectedUpstreamMap []handlerWrapper
+		expectedLocalQs     []dns.Question
+	}{
+		{
+			name:            "Initial Config Should Succeed",
+			initUpstreamMap: nil,
+			initSerial:      0,
+			inputSerial:     1,
+			inputUpdate: nbdns.Config{
+				ServiceEnable: true,
+				CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
+					{
+						Domain:  "netbird.cloud",
+						Records: zoneRecords,
+					},
+				},
+				NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
+					{
+						Domains:     []string{"netbird.io"},
+						NameServers: nameServers,
+					},
+					{
+						NameServers: nameServers,
+						Primary:     true,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expectedUpstreamMap: []handlerWrapper{
+				{
+					domain:   "netbird.io",
+					priority: PriorityUpstream,
+				},
+				{
+					domain:   "netbird.cloud",
+					priority: PriorityLocal,
+				},
+				{
+					domain:   nbdns.RootZone,
+					priority: PriorityDefault,
+				},
+			},
+			expectedLocalQs: []dns.Question{{Name: "peera.netbird.cloud.", Qtype: dns.TypeA, Qclass: dns.ClassINET}},
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "New Config Should Succeed",
+			initLocalZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{{Domain: "netbird.cloud", Records: []nbdns.SimpleRecord{{Name: "netbird.cloud", Type: 1, Class: nbdns.DefaultClass, TTL: 300, RData: "10.0.0.1"}}}},
+			initUpstreamMap: []handlerWrapper{
+				{
+					domain:   "netbird.cloud",
+					handler:  &mockHandler{},
+					priority: PriorityUpstream,
+				},
+			},
+			initSerial:  0,
+			inputSerial: 1,
+			inputUpdate: nbdns.Config{
+				ServiceEnable: true,
+				CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
+					{
+						Domain:  "netbird.cloud",
+						Records: zoneRecords,
+					},
+				},
+				NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
+					{
+						Domains:     []string{"netbird.io"},
+						NameServers: nameServers,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expectedUpstreamMap: []handlerWrapper{
+				{
+					domain:   "netbird.io",
+					priority: PriorityUpstream,
+				},
+				{
+					domain:   "netbird.cloud",
+					priority: PriorityLocal,
+				},
+			},
+			expectedLocalQs: []dns.Question{{Name: zoneRecords[0].Name, Qtype: 1, Qclass: 1}},
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "Smaller Config Serial Should Be Skipped",
+			initLocalZones:  []nbdns.CustomZone{},
+			initUpstreamMap: nil,
+			initSerial:      2,
+			inputSerial:     1,
+			shouldFail:      true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "Empty NS Group Domain Or Not Primary Element Should Fail",
+			initLocalZones:  []nbdns.CustomZone{},
+			initUpstreamMap: nil,
+			initSerial:      0,
+			inputSerial:     1,
+			inputUpdate: nbdns.Config{
+				ServiceEnable: true,
+				CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
+					{
+						Domain:  "netbird.cloud",
+						Records: zoneRecords,
+					},
+				},
+				NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
+					{
+						NameServers: nameServers,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			shouldFail: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "Invalid NS Group Nameservers list Should Fail",
+			initLocalZones:  []nbdns.CustomZone{},
+			initUpstreamMap: nil,
+			initSerial:      0,
+			inputSerial:     1,
+			inputUpdate: nbdns.Config{
+				ServiceEnable: true,
+				CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
+					{
+						Domain:  "netbird.cloud",
+						Records: zoneRecords,
+					},
+				},
+				NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
+					{
+						NameServers: nameServers,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			shouldFail: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:            "Invalid Custom Zone Records list Should Skip",
+			initLocalZones:  []nbdns.CustomZone{},
+			initUpstreamMap: nil,
+			initSerial:      0,
+			inputSerial:     1,
+			inputUpdate: nbdns.Config{
+				ServiceEnable: true,
+				CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
+					{
+						Domain: "netbird.cloud",
+					},
+				},
+				NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
+					{
+						NameServers: nameServers,
+						Primary:     true,
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			expectedUpstreamMap: []handlerWrapper{{
+				domain:   ".",
+				priority: PriorityDefault,
+			}},
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "Empty Config Should Succeed and Clean Maps",
+			initLocalZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{{Domain: "netbird.cloud", Records: []nbdns.SimpleRecord{{Name: "netbird.cloud", Type: int(dns.TypeA), Class: nbdns.DefaultClass, TTL: 300, RData: "10.0.0.1"}}}},
+			initUpstreamMap: []handlerWrapper{
+				{
+					domain:   zoneRecords[0].Name,
+					handler:  &mockHandler{},
+					priority: PriorityUpstream,
+				},
+			},
+			initSerial:          0,
+			inputSerial:         1,
+			inputUpdate:         nbdns.Config{ServiceEnable: true},
+			expectedUpstreamMap: nil,
+			expectedLocalQs:     []dns.Question{},
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "Disabled Service Should clean map",
+			initLocalZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{{Domain: "netbird.cloud", Records: []nbdns.SimpleRecord{{Name: "netbird.cloud", Type: int(dns.TypeA), Class: nbdns.DefaultClass, TTL: 300, RData: "10.0.0.1"}}}},
+			initUpstreamMap: []handlerWrapper{
+				{
+					domain:   zoneRecords[0].Name,
+					handler:  &mockHandler{},
+					priority: PriorityUpstream,
+				},
+			},
+			initSerial:          0,
+			inputSerial:         1,
+			inputUpdate:         nbdns.Config{ServiceEnable: false},
+			expectedUpstreamMap: nil,
+			expectedLocalQs:     []dns.Question{},
+		},
+	}
+
+	for n, testCase := range testCases {
+		t.Run(testCase.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			privKey, _ := wgtypes.GenerateKey()
+			newNet, err := stdnet.NewNet(context.Background(), nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+
+			opts := iface.WGIFaceOpts{
+				IFaceName:    fmt.Sprintf("utun230%d", n),
+				Address:      wgaddr.MustParseWGAddress(fmt.Sprintf("100.66.100.%d/32", n+1)),
+				WGPort:       33100,
+				WGPrivKey:    privKey.String(),
+				MTU:          iface.DefaultMTU,
+				TransportNet: newNet,
+			}
+
+			wgIface, err := iface.NewWGIFace(opts)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			err = wgIface.Create()
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			defer func() {
+				err = wgIface.Close()
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Log(err)
+				}
+			}()
+			dnsServer, err := NewDefaultServer(context.Background(), DefaultServerConfig{
+				WgInterface:    wgIface,
+				CustomAddress:  "",
+				StatusRecorder: peer.NewRecorder("mgm"),
+				StateManager:   nil,
+				DisableSys:     false,
+			})
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			err = dnsServer.Initialize()
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			defer func() {
+				err = dnsServer.hostManager.restoreHostDNS()
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Log(err)
+				}
+			}()
+
+			dnsServer.dnsMuxHandlers = testCase.initUpstreamMap
+			dnsServer.localResolver.Update(testCase.initLocalZones)
+			dnsServer.updateSerial = testCase.initSerial
+
+			err = dnsServer.UpdateDNSServer(testCase.inputSerial, testCase.inputUpdate)
+			if err != nil {
+				if testCase.shouldFail {
+					return
+				}
+				t.Fatalf("update dns server should not fail, got error: %v", err)
+			}
+
+			if len(dnsServer.dnsMuxHandlers) != len(testCase.expectedUpstreamMap) {
+				t.Fatalf("update upstream failed, map size is different than expected, want %d, got %d", len(testCase.expectedUpstreamMap), len(dnsServer.dnsMuxHandlers))
+			}
+
+			for _, expected := range testCase.expectedUpstreamMap {
+				found := false
+				for _, got := range dnsServer.dnsMuxHandlers {
+					if got.domain == expected.domain && got.priority == expected.priority {
+						found = true
+						break
+					}
+				}
+				if !found {
+					t.Fatalf("update upstream failed, handler for domain=%s priority=%d not found in dnsMuxHandlers: %#v", expected.domain, expected.priority, dnsServer.dnsMuxHandlers)
+				}
+			}
+
+			var responseMSG *dns.Msg
+			responseWriter := &test.MockResponseWriter{
+				WriteMsgFunc: func(m *dns.Msg) error {
+					responseMSG = m
+					return nil
+				},
+			}
+			for _, q := range testCase.expectedLocalQs {
+				dnsServer.localResolver.ServeDNS(responseWriter, &dns.Msg{
+					Question: []dns.Question{q},
+				})
+			}
+
+			if len(testCase.expectedLocalQs) > 0 {
+				assert.NotNil(t, responseMSG, "response message should not be nil")
+				assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, responseMSG.Rcode, "response code should be success")
+				assert.NotEmpty(t, responseMSG.Answer, "response message should have answers")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestDNSFakeResolverHandleUpdates(t *testing.T) {
+	ov := os.Getenv("NB_WG_KERNEL_DISABLED")
+	defer t.Setenv("NB_WG_KERNEL_DISABLED", ov)
+
+	t.Setenv("NB_WG_KERNEL_DISABLED", "true")
+	newNet, err := stdnet.NewNet(context.Background(), []string{"utun2301"})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("create stdnet: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	privKey, _ := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
+	opts := iface.WGIFaceOpts{
+		IFaceName:    "utun2301",
+		Address:      wgaddr.MustParseWGAddress("100.66.100.1/32"),
+		WGPort:       33100,
+		WGPrivKey:    privKey.String(),
+		MTU:          iface.DefaultMTU,
+		TransportNet: newNet,
+	}
+	wgIface, err := iface.NewWGIFace(opts)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("build interface wireguard: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	err = wgIface.Create()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("create and init wireguard interface: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if err = wgIface.Close(); err != nil {
+			t.Logf("close wireguard interface: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
+	defer ctrl.Finish()
+
+	packetfilter := pfmock.NewMockPacketFilter(ctrl)
+	packetfilter.EXPECT().FilterOutbound(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).AnyTimes()
+	packetfilter.EXPECT().SetUDPPacketHook(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).AnyTimes()
+	packetfilter.EXPECT().SetTCPPacketHook(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).AnyTimes()
+
+	if err := wgIface.SetFilter(packetfilter); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("set packet filter: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	dnsServer, err := NewDefaultServer(context.Background(), DefaultServerConfig{
+		WgInterface:    wgIface,
+		CustomAddress:  "",
+		StatusRecorder: peer.NewRecorder("mgm"),
+		StateManager:   nil,
+		DisableSys:     false,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("create DNS server: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	err = dnsServer.Initialize()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("run DNS server: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer func() {
+		if err = dnsServer.hostManager.restoreHostDNS(); err != nil {
+			t.Logf("restore DNS settings on the host: %v", err)
+			return
+		}
+	}()
+
+	dnsServer.dnsMuxHandlers = []handlerWrapper{
+		{
+			domain:   zoneRecords[0].Name,
+			handler:  &local.Resolver{},
+			priority: PriorityUpstream,
+		},
+	}
+	dnsServer.localResolver.Update([]nbdns.CustomZone{{Domain: "netbird.cloud", Records: []nbdns.SimpleRecord{{Name: "netbird.cloud", Type: int(dns.TypeA), Class: nbdns.DefaultClass, TTL: 300, RData: "10.0.0.1"}}}})
+	dnsServer.updateSerial = 0
+
+	nameServers := []nbdns.NameServer{
+		{
+			IP:     netip.MustParseAddr("8.8.8.8"),
+			NSType: nbdns.UDPNameServerType,
+			Port:   53,
+		},
+		{
+			IP:     netip.MustParseAddr("8.8.4.4"),
+			NSType: nbdns.UDPNameServerType,
+			Port:   53,
+		},
+	}
+
+	update := nbdns.Config{
+		ServiceEnable: true,
+		CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
+			{
+				Domain:  "netbird.cloud",
+				Records: zoneRecords,
+			},
+		},
+		NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
+			{
+				Domains:     []string{"netbird.io"},
+				NameServers: nameServers,
+			},
+			{
+				NameServers: nameServers,
+				Primary:     true,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
+	// Start the server with regular configuration
+	if err := dnsServer.UpdateDNSServer(1, update); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("update dns server should not fail, got error: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	update2 := update
+	update2.ServiceEnable = false
+	// Disable the server, stop the listener
+	if err := dnsServer.UpdateDNSServer(2, update2); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("update dns server should not fail, got error: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	update3 := update2
+	update3.NameServerGroups = update3.NameServerGroups[:1]
+	// But service still get updates and we checking that we handle
+	// internal state in the right way
+	if err := dnsServer.UpdateDNSServer(3, update3); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("update dns server should not fail, got error: %v", err)
+		return
+	}
+}
--- a/client/internal/dns/server_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/dns/server_test.go
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"

-	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
 	"github.com/miekg/dns"
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -23,7 +22,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/configurer"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/device"
-	pfmock "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/mocks"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/wgaddr"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/dns/local"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/dns/test"
@@ -104,481 +102,6 @@ func init() {
 	formatter.SetTextFormatter(log.StandardLogger())
 }

-func generateDummyHandler(d string, servers []nbdns.NameServer) *upstreamResolverBase {
-	var srvs []netip.AddrPort
-	for _, srv := range servers {
-		srvs = append(srvs, srv.AddrPort())
-	}
-	u := &upstreamResolverBase{
-		domain: domain.Domain(d),
-		cancel: func() {},
-	}
-	u.addRace(srvs)
-	return u
-}
-
-func TestUpdateDNSServer(t *testing.T) {
-
-	nameServers := []nbdns.NameServer{
-		{
-			IP:     netip.MustParseAddr("8.8.8.8"),
-			NSType: nbdns.UDPNameServerType,
-			Port:   53,
-		},
-		{
-			IP:     netip.MustParseAddr("8.8.4.4"),
-			NSType: nbdns.UDPNameServerType,
-			Port:   53,
-		},
-	}
-
-	dummyHandler := local.NewResolver()
-
-	testCases := []struct {
-		name                string
-		initUpstreamMap     registeredHandlerMap
-		initLocalZones      []nbdns.CustomZone
-		initSerial          uint64
-		inputSerial         uint64
-		inputUpdate         nbdns.Config
-		shouldFail          bool
-		expectedUpstreamMap registeredHandlerMap
-		expectedLocalQs     []dns.Question
-	}{
-		{
-			name:            "Initial Config Should Succeed",
-			initUpstreamMap: make(registeredHandlerMap),
-			initSerial:      0,
-			inputSerial:     1,
-			inputUpdate: nbdns.Config{
-				ServiceEnable: true,
-				CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
-					{
-						Domain:  "netbird.cloud",
-						Records: zoneRecords,
-					},
-				},
-				NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
-					{
-						Domains:     []string{"netbird.io"},
-						NameServers: nameServers,
-					},
-					{
-						NameServers: nameServers,
-						Primary:     true,
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			expectedUpstreamMap: registeredHandlerMap{
-				generateDummyHandler("netbird.io", nameServers).ID(): handlerWrapper{
-					domain:   "netbird.io",
-					handler:  dummyHandler,
-					priority: PriorityUpstream,
-				},
-				dummyHandler.ID(): handlerWrapper{
-					domain:   "netbird.cloud",
-					handler:  dummyHandler,
-					priority: PriorityLocal,
-				},
-				generateDummyHandler(".", nameServers).ID(): handlerWrapper{
-					domain:   nbdns.RootZone,
-					handler:  dummyHandler,
-					priority: PriorityDefault,
-				},
-			},
-			expectedLocalQs: []dns.Question{{Name: "peera.netbird.cloud.", Qtype: dns.TypeA, Qclass: dns.ClassINET}},
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "New Config Should Succeed",
-			initLocalZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{{Domain: "netbird.cloud", Records: []nbdns.SimpleRecord{{Name: "netbird.cloud", Type: 1, Class: nbdns.DefaultClass, TTL: 300, RData: "10.0.0.1"}}}},
-			initUpstreamMap: registeredHandlerMap{
-				generateDummyHandler(zoneRecords[0].Name, nameServers).ID(): handlerWrapper{
-					domain:   "netbird.cloud",
-					handler:  dummyHandler,
-					priority: PriorityUpstream,
-				},
-			},
-			initSerial:  0,
-			inputSerial: 1,
-			inputUpdate: nbdns.Config{
-				ServiceEnable: true,
-				CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
-					{
-						Domain:  "netbird.cloud",
-						Records: zoneRecords,
-					},
-				},
-				NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
-					{
-						Domains:     []string{"netbird.io"},
-						NameServers: nameServers,
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			expectedUpstreamMap: registeredHandlerMap{
-				generateDummyHandler("netbird.io", nameServers).ID(): handlerWrapper{
-					domain:   "netbird.io",
-					handler:  dummyHandler,
-					priority: PriorityUpstream,
-				},
-				"local-resolver": handlerWrapper{
-					domain:   "netbird.cloud",
-					handler:  dummyHandler,
-					priority: PriorityLocal,
-				},
-			},
-			expectedLocalQs: []dns.Question{{Name: zoneRecords[0].Name, Qtype: 1, Qclass: 1}},
-		},
-		{
-			name:            "Smaller Config Serial Should Be Skipped",
-			initLocalZones:  []nbdns.CustomZone{},
-			initUpstreamMap: make(registeredHandlerMap),
-			initSerial:      2,
-			inputSerial:     1,
-			shouldFail:      true,
-		},
-		{
-			name:            "Empty NS Group Domain Or Not Primary Element Should Fail",
-			initLocalZones:  []nbdns.CustomZone{},
-			initUpstreamMap: make(registeredHandlerMap),
-			initSerial:      0,
-			inputSerial:     1,
-			inputUpdate: nbdns.Config{
-				ServiceEnable: true,
-				CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
-					{
-						Domain:  "netbird.cloud",
-						Records: zoneRecords,
-					},
-				},
-				NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
-					{
-						NameServers: nameServers,
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			shouldFail: true,
-		},
-		{
-			name:            "Invalid NS Group Nameservers list Should Fail",
-			initLocalZones:  []nbdns.CustomZone{},
-			initUpstreamMap: make(registeredHandlerMap),
-			initSerial:      0,
-			inputSerial:     1,
-			inputUpdate: nbdns.Config{
-				ServiceEnable: true,
-				CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
-					{
-						Domain:  "netbird.cloud",
-						Records: zoneRecords,
-					},
-				},
-				NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
-					{
-						NameServers: nameServers,
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			shouldFail: true,
-		},
-		{
-			name:            "Invalid Custom Zone Records list Should Skip",
-			initLocalZones:  []nbdns.CustomZone{},
-			initUpstreamMap: make(registeredHandlerMap),
-			initSerial:      0,
-			inputSerial:     1,
-			inputUpdate: nbdns.Config{
-				ServiceEnable: true,
-				CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
-					{
-						Domain: "netbird.cloud",
-					},
-				},
-				NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
-					{
-						NameServers: nameServers,
-						Primary:     true,
-					},
-				},
-			},
-			expectedUpstreamMap: registeredHandlerMap{generateDummyHandler(".", nameServers).ID(): handlerWrapper{
-				domain:   ".",
-				handler:  dummyHandler,
-				priority: PriorityDefault,
-			}},
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "Empty Config Should Succeed and Clean Maps",
-			initLocalZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{{Domain: "netbird.cloud", Records: []nbdns.SimpleRecord{{Name: "netbird.cloud", Type: int(dns.TypeA), Class: nbdns.DefaultClass, TTL: 300, RData: "10.0.0.1"}}}},
-			initUpstreamMap: registeredHandlerMap{
-				generateDummyHandler(zoneRecords[0].Name, nameServers).ID(): handlerWrapper{
-					domain:   zoneRecords[0].Name,
-					handler:  dummyHandler,
-					priority: PriorityUpstream,
-				},
-			},
-			initSerial:          0,
-			inputSerial:         1,
-			inputUpdate:         nbdns.Config{ServiceEnable: true},
-			expectedUpstreamMap: make(registeredHandlerMap),
-			expectedLocalQs:     []dns.Question{},
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "Disabled Service Should clean map",
-			initLocalZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{{Domain: "netbird.cloud", Records: []nbdns.SimpleRecord{{Name: "netbird.cloud", Type: int(dns.TypeA), Class: nbdns.DefaultClass, TTL: 300, RData: "10.0.0.1"}}}},
-			initUpstreamMap: registeredHandlerMap{
-				generateDummyHandler(zoneRecords[0].Name, nameServers).ID(): handlerWrapper{
-					domain:   zoneRecords[0].Name,
-					handler:  dummyHandler,
-					priority: PriorityUpstream,
-				},
-			},
-			initSerial:          0,
-			inputSerial:         1,
-			inputUpdate:         nbdns.Config{ServiceEnable: false},
-			expectedUpstreamMap: make(registeredHandlerMap),
-			expectedLocalQs:     []dns.Question{},
-		},
-	}
-
-	for n, testCase := range testCases {
-		t.Run(testCase.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			privKey, _ := wgtypes.GenerateKey()
-			newNet, err := stdnet.NewNet(context.Background(), nil)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-
-			opts := iface.WGIFaceOpts{
-				IFaceName:    fmt.Sprintf("utun230%d", n),
-				Address:      wgaddr.MustParseWGAddress(fmt.Sprintf("100.66.100.%d/32", n+1)),
-				WGPort:       33100,
-				WGPrivKey:    privKey.String(),
-				MTU:          iface.DefaultMTU,
-				TransportNet: newNet,
-			}
-
-			wgIface, err := iface.NewWGIFace(opts)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			err = wgIface.Create()
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			defer func() {
-				err = wgIface.Close()
-				if err != nil {
-					t.Log(err)
-				}
-			}()
-			dnsServer, err := NewDefaultServer(context.Background(), DefaultServerConfig{
-				WgInterface:    wgIface,
-				CustomAddress:  "",
-				StatusRecorder: peer.NewRecorder("mgm"),
-				StateManager:   nil,
-				DisableSys:     false,
-			})
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			err = dnsServer.Initialize()
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			defer func() {
-				err = dnsServer.hostManager.restoreHostDNS()
-				if err != nil {
-					t.Log(err)
-				}
-			}()
-
-			dnsServer.dnsMuxMap = testCase.initUpstreamMap
-			dnsServer.localResolver.Update(testCase.initLocalZones)
-			dnsServer.updateSerial = testCase.initSerial
-
-			err = dnsServer.UpdateDNSServer(testCase.inputSerial, testCase.inputUpdate)
-			if err != nil {
-				if testCase.shouldFail {
-					return
-				}
-				t.Fatalf("update dns server should not fail, got error: %v", err)
-			}
-
-			if len(dnsServer.dnsMuxMap) != len(testCase.expectedUpstreamMap) {
-				t.Fatalf("update upstream failed, map size is different than expected, want %d, got %d", len(testCase.expectedUpstreamMap), len(dnsServer.dnsMuxMap))
-			}
-
-			for key := range testCase.expectedUpstreamMap {
-				_, found := dnsServer.dnsMuxMap[key]
-				if !found {
-					t.Fatalf("update upstream failed, key %s was not found in the dnsMuxMap: %#v", key, dnsServer.dnsMuxMap)
-				}
-			}
-
-			var responseMSG *dns.Msg
-			responseWriter := &test.MockResponseWriter{
-				WriteMsgFunc: func(m *dns.Msg) error {
-					responseMSG = m
-					return nil
-				},
-			}
-			for _, q := range testCase.expectedLocalQs {
-				dnsServer.localResolver.ServeDNS(responseWriter, &dns.Msg{
-					Question: []dns.Question{q},
-				})
-			}
-
-			if len(testCase.expectedLocalQs) > 0 {
-				assert.NotNil(t, responseMSG, "response message should not be nil")
-				assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, responseMSG.Rcode, "response code should be success")
-				assert.NotEmpty(t, responseMSG.Answer, "response message should have answers")
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-func TestDNSFakeResolverHandleUpdates(t *testing.T) {
-	ov := os.Getenv("NB_WG_KERNEL_DISABLED")
-	defer t.Setenv("NB_WG_KERNEL_DISABLED", ov)
-
-	t.Setenv("NB_WG_KERNEL_DISABLED", "true")
-	newNet, err := stdnet.NewNet(context.Background(), []string{"utun2301"})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("create stdnet: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	privKey, _ := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
-	opts := iface.WGIFaceOpts{
-		IFaceName:    "utun2301",
-		Address:      wgaddr.MustParseWGAddress("100.66.100.1/32"),
-		WGPort:       33100,
-		WGPrivKey:    privKey.String(),
-		MTU:          iface.DefaultMTU,
-		TransportNet: newNet,
-	}
-	wgIface, err := iface.NewWGIFace(opts)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("build interface wireguard: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	err = wgIface.Create()
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("create and init wireguard interface: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-	defer func() {
-		if err = wgIface.Close(); err != nil {
-			t.Logf("close wireguard interface: %v", err)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
-	defer ctrl.Finish()
-
-	packetfilter := pfmock.NewMockPacketFilter(ctrl)
-	packetfilter.EXPECT().FilterOutbound(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).AnyTimes()
-	packetfilter.EXPECT().SetUDPPacketHook(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).AnyTimes()
-	packetfilter.EXPECT().SetTCPPacketHook(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).AnyTimes()
-
-	if err := wgIface.SetFilter(packetfilter); err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("set packet filter: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	dnsServer, err := NewDefaultServer(context.Background(), DefaultServerConfig{
-		WgInterface:    wgIface,
-		CustomAddress:  "",
-		StatusRecorder: peer.NewRecorder("mgm"),
-		StateManager:   nil,
-		DisableSys:     false,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("create DNS server: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	err = dnsServer.Initialize()
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Errorf("run DNS server: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-	defer func() {
-		if err = dnsServer.hostManager.restoreHostDNS(); err != nil {
-			t.Logf("restore DNS settings on the host: %v", err)
-			return
-		}
-	}()
-
-	dnsServer.dnsMuxMap = registeredHandlerMap{
-		"id1": handlerWrapper{
-			domain:   zoneRecords[0].Name,
-			handler:  &local.Resolver{},
-			priority: PriorityUpstream,
-		},
-	}
-	dnsServer.localResolver.Update([]nbdns.CustomZone{{Domain: "netbird.cloud", Records: []nbdns.SimpleRecord{{Name: "netbird.cloud", Type: int(dns.TypeA), Class: nbdns.DefaultClass, TTL: 300, RData: "10.0.0.1"}}}})
-	dnsServer.updateSerial = 0
-
-	nameServers := []nbdns.NameServer{
-		{
-			IP:     netip.MustParseAddr("8.8.8.8"),
-			NSType: nbdns.UDPNameServerType,
-			Port:   53,
-		},
-		{
-			IP:     netip.MustParseAddr("8.8.4.4"),
-			NSType: nbdns.UDPNameServerType,
-			Port:   53,
-		},
-	}
-
-	update := nbdns.Config{
-		ServiceEnable: true,
-		CustomZones: []nbdns.CustomZone{
-			{
-				Domain:  "netbird.cloud",
-				Records: zoneRecords,
-			},
-		},
-		NameServerGroups: []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
-			{
-				Domains:     []string{"netbird.io"},
-				NameServers: nameServers,
-			},
-			{
-				NameServers: nameServers,
-				Primary:     true,
-			},
-		},
-	}
-
-	// Start the server with regular configuration
-	if err := dnsServer.UpdateDNSServer(1, update); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("update dns server should not fail, got error: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	update2 := update
-	update2.ServiceEnable = false
-	// Disable the server, stop the listener
-	if err := dnsServer.UpdateDNSServer(2, update2); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("update dns server should not fail, got error: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	update3 := update2
-	update3.NameServerGroups = update3.NameServerGroups[:1]
-	// But service still get updates and we checking that we handle
-	// internal state in the right way
-	if err := dnsServer.UpdateDNSServer(3, update3); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("update dns server should not fail, got error: %v", err)
-		return
-	}
-}
-
 func TestDNSServerStartStop(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
 		name     string
@@ -1029,15 +552,15 @@ func (m *mockService) RegisterMux(string, dns.Handler) {}
 func (m *mockService) DeregisterMux(string)            {}

 func TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux(t *testing.T) {
-	baseMatchHandlers := registeredHandlerMap{
-		"upstream-group1": {
+	baseMatchHandlers := []handlerWrapper{
+		{
 			domain: "example.com",
 			handler: &mockHandler{
 				Id: "upstream-group1",
 			},
 			priority: PriorityUpstream,
 		},
-		"upstream-group2": {
+		{
 			domain: "example.com",
 			handler: &mockHandler{
 				Id: "upstream-group2",
@@ -1046,15 +569,15 @@ func TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}

-	baseRootHandlers := registeredHandlerMap{
-		"upstream-root1": {
+	baseRootHandlers := []handlerWrapper{
+		{
 			domain: ".",
 			handler: &mockHandler{
 				Id: "upstream-root1",
 			},
 			priority: PriorityDefault,
 		},
-		"upstream-root2": {
+		{
 			domain: ".",
 			handler: &mockHandler{
 				Id: "upstream-root2",
@@ -1063,22 +586,22 @@ func TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}

-	baseMixedHandlers := registeredHandlerMap{
-		"upstream-group1": {
+	baseMixedHandlers := []handlerWrapper{
+		{
 			domain: "example.com",
 			handler: &mockHandler{
 				Id: "upstream-group1",
 			},
 			priority: PriorityUpstream,
 		},
-		"upstream-group2": {
+		{
 			domain: "example.com",
 			handler: &mockHandler{
 				Id: "upstream-group2",
 			},
 			priority: PriorityUpstream - 1,
 		},
-		"upstream-other": {
+		{
 			domain: "other.com",
 			handler: &mockHandler{
 				Id: "upstream-other",
@@ -1089,7 +612,7 @@ func TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux(t *testing.T) {

 	tests := []struct {
 		name             string
-		initialHandlers  registeredHandlerMap
+		initialHandlers  []handlerWrapper
 		updates          []handlerWrapper
 		expectedHandlers map[string]string // map[HandlerID]domain
 		description      string
@@ -1373,32 +896,38 @@ func TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tt := range tests {
 		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
 			server := &DefaultServer{
-				dnsMuxMap:    tt.initialHandlers,
-				handlerChain: NewHandlerChain(),
-				service:      &mockService{},
+				dnsMuxHandlers: tt.initialHandlers,
+				handlerChain:   NewHandlerChain(),
+				service:        &mockService{},
 			}

 			// Perform the update
 			server.updateMux(tt.updates)

 			// Verify the results
-			assert.Equal(t, len(tt.expectedHandlers), len(server.dnsMuxMap),
+			assert.Equal(t, len(tt.expectedHandlers), len(server.dnsMuxHandlers),
 				"Number of handlers after update doesn't match expected")

 			// Check each expected handler
 			for id, expectedDomain := range tt.expectedHandlers {
-				handler, exists := server.dnsMuxMap[types.HandlerID(id)]
-				assert.True(t, exists, "Expected handler %s not found", id)
-				if exists {
-					assert.Equal(t, expectedDomain, handler.domain,
+				var found *handlerWrapper
+				for i := range server.dnsMuxHandlers {
+					if server.dnsMuxHandlers[i].handler.ID() == types.HandlerID(id) {
+						found = &server.dnsMuxHandlers[i]
+						break
+					}
+				}
+				assert.NotNil(t, found, "Expected handler %s not found", id)
+				if found != nil {
+					assert.Equal(t, expectedDomain, found.domain,
 						"Domain mismatch for handler %s", id)
 				}
 			}

 			// Verify no unexpected handlers exist
-			for HandlerID := range server.dnsMuxMap {
-				_, expected := tt.expectedHandlers[string(HandlerID)]
-				assert.True(t, expected, "Unexpected handler found: %s", HandlerID)
+			for _, entry := range server.dnsMuxHandlers {
+				_, expected := tt.expectedHandlers[string(entry.handler.ID())]
+				assert.True(t, expected, "Unexpected handler found: %s", entry.handler.ID())
 			}

 			// Verify the handlerChain state and order
@@ -1413,7 +942,7 @@ func TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux(t *testing.T) {

 				// Verify handler exists in mux
 				foundInMux := false
-				for _, muxEntry := range server.dnsMuxMap {
+				for _, muxEntry := range server.dnsMuxHandlers {
 					if chainEntry.Handler == muxEntry.handler &&
 						chainEntry.Priority == muxEntry.priority &&
 						chainEntry.Pattern == dns.Fqdn(muxEntry.domain) {
@@ -1422,12 +951,108 @@ func TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux(t *testing.T) {
 					}
 				}
 				assert.True(t, foundInMux,
-					"Handler in chain not found in dnsMuxMap")
+					"Handler in chain not found in dnsMuxHandlers")
 			}
 		})
 	}
 }

+// chainHasPattern reports whether the handler chain holds an entry registered
+// for the given fqdn pattern at the given priority.
+func chainHasPattern(s *DefaultServer, pattern string, priority int) bool {
+	for _, h := range s.handlerChain.handlers {
+		if h.OrigPattern == pattern && h.Priority == priority {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux_SharedHandlerZoneRemoval verifies that updateMux
+// tracks each (handler, domain) registration independently when one handler
+// serves multiple zones. Every custom zone is served by the same handler
+// instance (the local resolver, whose ID is the constant "local-resolver"), so
+// removing one zone must deregister exactly that zone's chain entry and leave
+// the others in place. Tracking registrations by handler ID alone collapses all
+// zones onto one entry, leaving removed zones in the chain to answer
+// authoritatively with no records.
+func TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux_SharedHandlerZoneRemoval(t *testing.T) {
+	// One handler serves every custom zone, mirroring s.localResolver.
+	shared := &mockHandler{Id: "local-resolver"}
+
+	server := &DefaultServer{
+		handlerChain: NewHandlerChain(),
+		service:      &mockService{},
+	}
+
+	// Two custom zones under the same handler. The surviving zone is registered
+	// last, mirroring the management emission order.
+	server.updateMux([]handlerWrapper{
+		{domain: "userzone.test", handler: shared, priority: PriorityLocal},
+		{domain: "peerzone.test", handler: shared, priority: PriorityLocal},
+	})
+
+	require.True(t, chainHasPattern(server, "userzone.test.", PriorityLocal),
+		"userzone.test should be registered after the first update")
+	require.True(t, chainHasPattern(server, "peerzone.test.", PriorityLocal),
+		"peerzone.test should be registered after the first update")
+
+	// Remove one zone, keep the other.
+	server.updateMux([]handlerWrapper{
+		{domain: "peerzone.test", handler: shared, priority: PriorityLocal},
+	})
+
+	assert.True(t, chainHasPattern(server, "peerzone.test.", PriorityLocal),
+		"peerzone.test should remain after removing userzone.test")
+	assert.False(t, chainHasPattern(server, "userzone.test.", PriorityLocal),
+		"userzone.test handler must be deregistered, not leaked in the chain")
+}
+
+// TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux_PreservesLocalResolver verifies that updateMux
+// does not tear down the shared local resolver during reconfiguration. The
+// resolver is a process-lifetime singleton reused across config updates;
+// Stop() cancels its lookup context (breaking external CNAME-target
+// resolution) and clears its records. updateMux must deregister its chain
+// entries without stopping it. Records surviving a teardown update is the
+// observable proxy: Stop() would have cleared them.
+func TestDefaultServer_UpdateMux_PreservesLocalResolver(t *testing.T) {
+	resolver := local.NewResolver()
+	require.NoError(t, resolver.RegisterRecord(nbdns.SimpleRecord{
+		Name:  "peer.netbird.cloud.",
+		Type:  int(dns.TypeA),
+		Class: nbdns.DefaultClass,
+		TTL:   300,
+		RData: "10.0.0.1",
+	}))
+
+	server := &DefaultServer{
+		handlerChain:  NewHandlerChain(),
+		service:       &mockService{},
+		localResolver: resolver,
+	}
+
+	server.updateMux([]handlerWrapper{
+		{domain: "netbird.cloud", handler: resolver, priority: PriorityLocal},
+	})
+
+	// Remove the zone. The resolver must survive so its records and lookup
+	// context stay intact for the next registration.
+	server.updateMux(nil)
+
+	var response *dns.Msg
+	resolver.ServeDNS(&test.MockResponseWriter{
+		WriteMsgFunc: func(m *dns.Msg) error {
+			response = m
+			return nil
+		},
+	}, &dns.Msg{Question: []dns.Question{{Name: "peer.netbird.cloud.", Qtype: dns.TypeA, Qclass: dns.ClassINET}}})
+
+	require.NotNil(t, response, "local resolver should answer after teardown")
+	assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, response.Rcode,
+		"local resolver records must survive teardown; updateMux must not Stop() the shared resolver")
+	assert.NotEmpty(t, response.Answer, "answer should contain the surviving record")
+}
+
 func TestExtraDomains(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name                string
@@ -2049,7 +1674,6 @@ func TestBuildUpstreamHandler_MergesGroupsPerDomain(t *testing.T) {
 		localResolver: local.NewResolver(),
 		handlerChain:  NewHandlerChain(),
 		hostManager:   &noopHostConfigurator{},
-		dnsMuxMap:     make(registeredHandlerMap),
 	}

 	groups := []*nbdns.NameServerGroup{
@@ -2207,7 +1831,7 @@ func TestEvaluateNSGroupHealth(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-// healthStubHandler is a minimal dnsMuxMap entry that exposes a fixed
+// healthStubHandler is a minimal dnsMuxHandlers entry that exposes a fixed
 // UpstreamHealth snapshot, letting tests drive recomputeNSGroupStates
 // without spinning up real handlers.
 type healthStubHandler struct {
@@ -2283,12 +1907,11 @@ func newProjTestFixture(t *testing.T) *projTestFixture {
 		ctx:              context.Background(),
 		wgInterface:      &mocWGIface{},
 		statusRecorder:   recorder,
-		dnsMuxMap:        make(registeredHandlerMap),
 		selectedRoutes:   func() route.HAMap { return fx.selected },
 		activeRoutes:     func() route.HAMap { return fx.active },
 		warningDelayBase: defaultWarningDelayBase,
 	}
-	fx.server.dnsMuxMap["example.com"] = handlerWrapper{domain: "example.com", handler: fx.stub, priority: PriorityUpstream}
+	fx.server.dnsMuxHandlers = []handlerWrapper{{domain: "example.com", handler: fx.stub, priority: PriorityUpstream}}

 	fx.server.mux.Lock()
 	fx.server.updateNSGroupStates([]*nbdns.NameServerGroup{fx.group})
@@ -2395,7 +2018,6 @@ func TestProjection_OverlayAddrNoRouteDelaysWarning(t *testing.T) {
 		ctx:              context.Background(),
 		wgInterface:      &mocWGIface{},
 		statusRecorder:   recorder,
-		dnsMuxMap:        make(registeredHandlerMap),
 		selectedRoutes:   func() route.HAMap { return nil },
 		activeRoutes:     func() route.HAMap { return nil },
 		warningDelayBase: 50 * time.Millisecond,
@@ -2407,7 +2029,7 @@ func TestProjection_OverlayAddrNoRouteDelaysWarning(t *testing.T) {
 	stub := &healthStubHandler{health: map[netip.AddrPort]UpstreamHealth{
 		overlayPeer: {LastFail: time.Now(), LastErr: "timeout"},
 	}}
-	server.dnsMuxMap["example.com"] = handlerWrapper{domain: "example.com", handler: stub, priority: PriorityUpstream}
+	server.dnsMuxHandlers = []handlerWrapper{{domain: "example.com", handler: stub, priority: PriorityUpstream}}

 	server.mux.Lock()
 	server.updateNSGroupStates([]*nbdns.NameServerGroup{group})
@@ -2444,7 +2066,6 @@ func TestProjection_StopClearsHealthState(t *testing.T) {
 		service:           NewServiceViaMemory(wgIface),
 		hostManager:       &noopHostConfigurator{},
 		extraDomains:      map[domain.Domain]int{},
-		dnsMuxMap:         make(registeredHandlerMap),
 		statusRecorder:    peer.NewRecorder("mgm"),
 		selectedRoutes:    func() route.HAMap { return nil },
 		activeRoutes:      func() route.HAMap { return nil },
@@ -2459,7 +2080,7 @@ func TestProjection_StopClearsHealthState(t *testing.T) {
 		NameServers: []nbdns.NameServer{{IP: srv.Addr(), NSType: nbdns.UDPNameServerType, Port: int(srv.Port())}},
 	}
 	stub := &healthStubHandler{health: map[netip.AddrPort]UpstreamHealth{srv: {LastOk: time.Now()}}}
-	server.dnsMuxMap["example.com"] = handlerWrapper{domain: "example.com", handler: stub, priority: PriorityUpstream}
+	server.dnsMuxHandlers = []handlerWrapper{{domain: "example.com", handler: stub, priority: PriorityUpstream}}

 	server.mux.Lock()
 	server.updateNSGroupStates([]*nbdns.NameServerGroup{group})
@@ -2484,6 +2105,32 @@ func TestProjection_StopClearsHealthState(t *testing.T) {
 // rule 3: startup failures while the peer is handshaking, then the peer
 // comes up and a query succeeds before the grace window elapses. No
 // warning should ever have fired, and no recovery either.
+func TestWarningDelayBaseFromEnv(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		set  bool
+		val  string
+		want time.Duration
+	}{
+		{name: "unset uses default", set: false, want: defaultWarningDelayBase},
+		{name: "valid override", set: true, val: "90s", want: 90 * time.Second},
+		{name: "valid minutes", set: true, val: "2m", want: 2 * time.Minute},
+		{name: "invalid falls back", set: true, val: "notaduration", want: defaultWarningDelayBase},
+		{name: "zero falls back", set: true, val: "0s", want: defaultWarningDelayBase},
+		{name: "negative falls back", set: true, val: "-30s", want: defaultWarningDelayBase},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			t.Setenv(envWarningDelay, tc.val)
+			if !tc.set {
+				os.Unsetenv(envWarningDelay)
+			}
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, warningDelayBaseFromEnv(), "grace window base")
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestProjection_OverlayRecoversDuringGrace(t *testing.T) {
 	fx := newProjTestFixture(t)
 	fx.server.warningDelayBase = 200 * time.Millisecond
@@ -2595,7 +2242,6 @@ func TestProjection_MixedGroupEmitsImmediately(t *testing.T) {
 	server := &DefaultServer{
 		ctx:              context.Background(),
 		statusRecorder:   recorder,
-		dnsMuxMap:        make(registeredHandlerMap),
 		selectedRoutes:   func() route.HAMap { return overlayMap },
 		activeRoutes:     func() route.HAMap { return nil },
 		warningDelayBase: time.Hour,
@@ -2613,7 +2259,7 @@ func TestProjection_MixedGroupEmitsImmediately(t *testing.T) {
 			overlay: {LastFail: time.Now(), LastErr: "timeout"},
 		},
 	}
-	server.dnsMuxMap["example.com"] = handlerWrapper{domain: "example.com", handler: stub, priority: PriorityUpstream}
+	server.dnsMuxHandlers = []handlerWrapper{{domain: "example.com", handler: stub, priority: PriorityUpstream}}

 	server.mux.Lock()
 	server.updateNSGroupStates([]*nbdns.NameServerGroup{group})
@@ -2640,7 +2286,6 @@ func TestDNSLoopPrevention(t *testing.T) {
 		localResolver: local.NewResolver(),
 		handlerChain:  NewHandlerChain(),
 		hostManager:   &noopHostConfigurator{},
-		dnsMuxMap:     make(registeredHandlerMap),
 	}

 	tests := []struct {
--- a/client/internal/dns/upstream.go
+++ b/client/internal/dns/upstream.go
@@ -443,29 +443,32 @@ func (u *upstreamResolverBase) queryUpstream(parentCtx context.Context, r *dns.M
 		return raceResult{}, &upstreamFailure{upstream: upstream, reason: "no response"}
 	}

+	// A valid response means the upstream is reachable, whatever the Rcode.
+	u.markUpstreamOk(upstream)
+
 	proto := ""
 	if upstreamProto != nil {
 		proto = upstreamProto.protocol
 	}

 	if rm.Rcode == dns.RcodeServerFailure || rm.Rcode == dns.RcodeRefused {
+		// SERVFAIL and REFUSED are per-question outcomes (DNSSEC-bogus names,
+		// refused zones, transient recursion errors), not reachability
+		// problems: fail over for a better answer but keep the upstream healthy.
 		if code, ok := nonRetryableEDE(rm); ok {
 			if !hadEdns {
-				stripOPT(rm)
+				resutil.StripOPT(rm)
 			}
-			u.markUpstreamOk(upstream)
 			return raceResult{msg: rm, upstream: upstream, protocol: proto, ede: edeName(code)}, nil
 		}
 		reason := dns.RcodeToString[rm.Rcode]
-		u.markUpstreamFail(upstream, reason)
 		return raceResult{}, &upstreamFailure{upstream: upstream, reason: reason}
 	}

 	if !hadEdns {
-		stripOPT(rm)
+		resutil.StripOPT(rm)
 	}

-	u.markUpstreamOk(upstream)
 	return raceResult{msg: rm, upstream: upstream, protocol: proto}, nil
 }

@@ -520,22 +523,6 @@ func upstreamUDPSize() uint16 {
 	return dns.MinMsgSize
 }

-// stripOPT removes any OPT pseudo-RRs from the response's Extra section so
-// the response complies with RFC 6891 when the client did not advertise EDNS0.
-func stripOPT(rm *dns.Msg) {
-	if len(rm.Extra) == 0 {
-		return
-	}
-	out := rm.Extra[:0]
-	for _, rr := range rm.Extra {
-		if _, ok := rr.(*dns.OPT); ok {
-			continue
-		}
-		out = append(out, rr)
-	}
-	rm.Extra = out
-}
-
 func (u *upstreamResolverBase) handleUpstreamError(err error, upstream netip.AddrPort, startTime time.Time) *upstreamFailure {
 	if !errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) && !isTimeout(err) {
 		return &upstreamFailure{upstream: upstream, reason: err.Error()}
--- a/client/internal/dns/upstream_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/dns/upstream_test.go
@@ -517,6 +517,78 @@ func TestUpstreamResolver_HealthTracking(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotContains(t, health, bad, "sibling upstream should not be queried when primary answers")
 }

+// TestUpstreamResolver_HealthTracking_ResponseMeansReachable verifies that an
+// upstream which answers with SERVFAIL or REFUSED is recorded as healthy:
+// those are per-question outcomes from a reachable server and must not mark
+// the upstream unhealthy. Only transport failures (timeouts) do.
+func TestUpstreamResolver_HealthTracking_ResponseMeansReachable(t *testing.T) {
+	a := netip.MustParseAddrPort("192.0.2.10:53")
+	b := netip.MustParseAddrPort("192.0.2.11:53")
+	timeoutErr := &net.OpError{Op: "read", Err: fmt.Errorf("i/o timeout")}
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		respA       mockUpstreamResponse
+		respB       mockUpstreamResponse
+		wantHealthy bool
+	}{
+		{
+			name:        "both SERVFAIL are reachable",
+			respA:       mockUpstreamResponse{msg: buildMockResponse(dns.RcodeServerFailure, "")},
+			respB:       mockUpstreamResponse{msg: buildMockResponse(dns.RcodeServerFailure, "")},
+			wantHealthy: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "both REFUSED are reachable",
+			respA:       mockUpstreamResponse{msg: buildMockResponse(dns.RcodeRefused, "")},
+			respB:       mockUpstreamResponse{msg: buildMockResponse(dns.RcodeRefused, "")},
+			wantHealthy: true,
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "timeout marks unhealthy",
+			respA:       mockUpstreamResponse{err: timeoutErr},
+			respB:       mockUpstreamResponse{err: timeoutErr},
+			wantHealthy: false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			mockClient := &mockUpstreamResolverPerServer{
+				responses: map[string]mockUpstreamResponse{
+					a.String(): tc.respA,
+					b.String(): tc.respB,
+				},
+				rtt: time.Millisecond,
+			}
+
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+			defer cancel()
+
+			resolver := &upstreamResolverBase{
+				ctx:             ctx,
+				upstreamClient:  mockClient,
+				upstreamTimeout: UpstreamTimeout,
+			}
+			resolver.addRace([]netip.AddrPort{a, b})
+
+			responseWriter := &test.MockResponseWriter{WriteMsgFunc: func(m *dns.Msg) error { return nil }}
+			resolver.ServeDNS(responseWriter, new(dns.Msg).SetQuestion("example.com.", dns.TypeA))
+
+			health := resolver.UpstreamHealth()
+			require.Contains(t, health, a, "primary upstream should have a health record")
+			if tc.wantHealthy {
+				assert.False(t, health[a].LastOk.IsZero(), "responding upstream should have LastOk set")
+				assert.True(t, health[a].LastFail.IsZero(), "responding upstream should not be marked failed")
+				assert.Empty(t, health[a].LastErr, "responding upstream should have no error")
+			} else {
+				assert.False(t, health[a].LastFail.IsZero(), "timed-out upstream should be marked failed")
+				assert.NotEmpty(t, health[a].LastErr, "timed-out upstream should record an error")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestFormatFailures(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
 		name     string
@@ -913,19 +985,6 @@ func TestEDEName(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, "EDE 9999", edeName(9999), "unknown code falls back to numeric")
 }

-func TestStripOPT(t *testing.T) {
-	rm := &dns.Msg{
-		Extra: []dns.RR{
-			&dns.OPT{Hdr: dns.RR_Header{Name: ".", Rrtype: dns.TypeOPT}},
-			&dns.A{Hdr: dns.RR_Header{Name: "x.", Rrtype: dns.TypeA}, A: net.IPv4(1, 2, 3, 4)},
-		},
-	}
-	stripOPT(rm)
-	assert.Len(t, rm.Extra, 1, "OPT should be removed, A kept")
-	_, isOPT := rm.Extra[0].(*dns.OPT)
-	assert.False(t, isOPT, "remaining record must not be OPT")
-}
-
 func TestUpstreamResolver_NonRetryableEDEShortCircuits(t *testing.T) {
 	upstream1 := netip.MustParseAddrPort("192.0.2.1:53")
 	upstream2 := netip.MustParseAddrPort("192.0.2.2:53")
--- a/client/internal/dnsfwd/forwarder.go
+++ b/client/internal/dnsfwd/forwarder.go
@@ -26,8 +26,23 @@ import (
 const errResolveFailed = "failed to resolve query for domain=%s: %v"
 const upstreamTimeout = 15 * time.Second

+// EDE info codes the forwarder emits on upstream failures so the querying
+// client can see the reason without inspecting this peer's logs. They live in
+// the RFC 8914 Private Use range (49152-65535); the Go resolver never exposes a
+// real upstream EDE here, so these cannot collide with a genuine code.
+const (
+	edeNetbirdUpstreamTimeout uint16 = 49152
+	edeNetbirdUpstreamFailure uint16 = 49153
+)
+
 type resolver interface {
 	LookupNetIP(ctx context.Context, network, host string) ([]netip.Addr, error)
+	LookupMX(ctx context.Context, name string) ([]*net.MX, error)
+	LookupTXT(ctx context.Context, name string) ([]string, error)
+	LookupNS(ctx context.Context, name string) ([]*net.NS, error)
+	LookupSRV(ctx context.Context, service, proto, name string) (string, []*net.SRV, error)
+	LookupCNAME(ctx context.Context, host string) (string, error)
+	LookupAddr(ctx context.Context, addr string) ([]string, error)
 }

 type firewaller interface {
@@ -201,12 +216,6 @@ func (f *DNSForwarder) handleDNSQuery(logger *log.Entry, w dns.ResponseWriter, q
 		qname, dns.TypeToString[question.Qtype], dns.ClassToString[question.Qclass])

 	resp := query.SetReply(query)
-	network := resutil.NetworkForQtype(question.Qtype)
-	if network == "" {
-		resp.Rcode = dns.RcodeNotImplemented
-		f.writeResponse(logger, w, resp, qname, startTime)
-		return
-	}

 	mostSpecificResId, matchingEntries := f.getMatchingEntries(strings.TrimSuffix(qname, "."))
 	if mostSpecificResId == "" {
@@ -218,9 +227,46 @@ func (f *DNSForwarder) handleDNSQuery(logger *log.Entry, w dns.ResponseWriter, q
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), upstreamTimeout)
 	defer cancel()

+	reqHasEdns := query.IsEdns0() != nil
+
+	switch question.Qtype {
+	case dns.TypeA, dns.TypeAAAA:
+		f.handleAddressQuery(ctx, logger, w, resp, mostSpecificResId, matchingEntries, reqHasEdns, startTime)
+	case dns.TypeMX, dns.TypeTXT, dns.TypeNS, dns.TypeSRV, dns.TypeCNAME, dns.TypePTR:
+		f.handleRecordQuery(ctx, logger, w, resp, startTime)
+	default:
+		// The domain is routed here, so any other type is answered NODATA
+		// (NOERROR, empty answer) rather than falling back to a resolver that
+		// would poison the name with NXDOMAIN. The Extended DNS Error lets a
+		// client tell this capability-driven NODATA apart from an
+		// authoritative one. The OPT pseudo-record must not appear unless the
+		// query advertised EDNS0.
+		if reqHasEdns {
+			attachEDE(resp, dns.ExtendedErrorCodeNotSupported, "netbird forwarder: unsupported query type")
+		}
+		f.writeResponse(logger, w, resp, qname, startTime)
+	}
+}
+
+// handleAddressQuery resolves A/AAAA queries, programs the firewall sets and
+// resolved-IP state, and caches the answer for resilience on upstream failure.
+func (f *DNSForwarder) handleAddressQuery(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	logger *log.Entry,
+	w dns.ResponseWriter,
+	resp *dns.Msg,
+	mostSpecificResId route.ResID,
+	matchingEntries []*ForwarderEntry,
+	reqHasEdns bool,
+	startTime time.Time,
+) {
+	question := resp.Question[0]
+	qname := strings.ToLower(question.Name)
+
+	network := resutil.NetworkForQtype(question.Qtype)
 	result := resutil.LookupIP(ctx, f.resolver, network, qname, question.Qtype)
 	if result.Err != nil {
-		f.handleDNSError(ctx, logger, w, question, resp, qname, result, startTime)
+		f.handleDNSError(ctx, logger, w, question, resp, qname, result, reqHasEdns, startTime)
 		return
 	}

@@ -231,6 +277,25 @@ func (f *DNSForwarder) handleDNSQuery(logger *log.Entry, w dns.ResponseWriter, q
 	f.writeResponse(logger, w, resp, qname, startTime)
 }

+// handleRecordQuery resolves non-address record types (MX, TXT, NS, SRV,
+// CNAME, PTR) through the host resolver. Missing records are answered NODATA so
+// the routed name is never poisoned with NXDOMAIN.
+func (f *DNSForwarder) handleRecordQuery(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	logger *log.Entry,
+	w dns.ResponseWriter,
+	resp *dns.Msg,
+	startTime time.Time,
+) {
+	question := resp.Question[0]
+	qname := strings.ToLower(question.Name)
+
+	records, rcode := resutil.LookupRecords(ctx, f.resolver, qname, question.Qtype, f.ttl)
+	resp.Rcode = rcode
+	resp.Answer = append(resp.Answer, records...)
+	f.writeResponse(logger, w, resp, qname, startTime)
+}
+
 func (f *DNSForwarder) writeResponse(logger *log.Entry, w dns.ResponseWriter, resp *dns.Msg, qname string, startTime time.Time) {
 	if err := w.WriteMsg(resp); err != nil {
 		logger.Errorf("failed to write DNS response: %v", err)
@@ -333,6 +398,7 @@ func (f *DNSForwarder) handleDNSError(
 	resp *dns.Msg,
 	domain string,
 	result resutil.LookupResult,
+	reqHasEdns bool,
 	startTime time.Time,
 ) {
 	qType := question.Qtype
@@ -374,6 +440,10 @@ func (f *DNSForwarder) handleDNSError(
 		logger.Warnf(errResolveFailed, domain, result.Err)
 	}

+	if reqHasEdns {
+		attachEDE(resp, edeCodeFor(dnsErr), edeText(dnsErr))
+	}
+
 	f.writeResponse(logger, w, resp, domain, startTime)
 }

@@ -414,3 +484,33 @@ func (f *DNSForwarder) getMatchingEntries(domain string) (route.ResID, []*Forwar

 	return selectedResId, matches
 }
+
+// edeCodeFor maps an upstream lookup error to the NetBird EDE info code.
+func edeCodeFor(dnsErr *net.DNSError) uint16 {
+	if dnsErr != nil && dnsErr.IsTimeout {
+		return edeNetbirdUpstreamTimeout
+	}
+	return edeNetbirdUpstreamFailure
+}
+
+// edeText builds the EDE extra-text describing the class of upstream failure.
+// It deliberately omits the upstream server address, which may be an internal
+// resolver and is exposed to any client permitted to use the route; the full
+// detail stays in the forwarder's local log.
+func edeText(dnsErr *net.DNSError) string {
+	if dnsErr != nil && dnsErr.IsTimeout {
+		return "netbird forwarder: upstream timeout"
+	}
+	return "netbird forwarder: upstream failure"
+}
+
+// attachEDE adds an Extended DNS Error (RFC 8914) option to the response,
+// creating the OPT pseudo-record if the response does not already carry one.
+func attachEDE(resp *dns.Msg, code uint16, text string) {
+	opt := resp.IsEdns0()
+	if opt == nil {
+		resp.SetEdns0(dns.DefaultMsgSize, false)
+		opt = resp.IsEdns0()
+	}
+	opt.Option = append(opt.Option, &dns.EDNS0_EDE{InfoCode: code, ExtraText: text})
+}
--- a/client/internal/dnsfwd/forwarder_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/dnsfwd/forwarder_test.go
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"

 	firewall "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/firewall/manager"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/dns/resutil"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/dns/test"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
@@ -132,6 +133,41 @@ func (m *MockResolver) LookupNetIP(ctx context.Context, network, host string) ([
 	return args.Get(0).([]netip.Addr), args.Error(1)
 }

+func (m *MockResolver) LookupMX(ctx context.Context, name string) ([]*net.MX, error) {
+	args := m.Called(ctx, name)
+	recs, _ := args.Get(0).([]*net.MX)
+	return recs, args.Error(1)
+}
+
+func (m *MockResolver) LookupTXT(ctx context.Context, name string) ([]string, error) {
+	args := m.Called(ctx, name)
+	recs, _ := args.Get(0).([]string)
+	return recs, args.Error(1)
+}
+
+func (m *MockResolver) LookupNS(ctx context.Context, name string) ([]*net.NS, error) {
+	args := m.Called(ctx, name)
+	recs, _ := args.Get(0).([]*net.NS)
+	return recs, args.Error(1)
+}
+
+func (m *MockResolver) LookupSRV(ctx context.Context, service, proto, name string) (string, []*net.SRV, error) {
+	args := m.Called(ctx, service, proto, name)
+	recs, _ := args.Get(1).([]*net.SRV)
+	return args.String(0), recs, args.Error(2)
+}
+
+func (m *MockResolver) LookupCNAME(ctx context.Context, host string) (string, error) {
+	args := m.Called(ctx, host)
+	return args.String(0), args.Error(1)
+}
+
+func (m *MockResolver) LookupAddr(ctx context.Context, addr string) ([]string, error) {
+	args := m.Called(ctx, addr)
+	recs, _ := args.Get(0).([]string)
+	return recs, args.Error(1)
+}
+
 func TestDNSForwarder_SubdomainAccessLogic(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name             string
@@ -544,12 +580,15 @@ func TestDNSForwarder_MultipleIPsInSingleUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 }

 func TestDNSForwarder_ResponseCodes(t *testing.T) {
+	// A type with no net.Resolver Lookup method (CAA) must answer NODATA
+	// (NOERROR, empty) rather than NXDOMAIN/NOTIMP to avoid poisoning the name.
 	tests := []struct {
 		name         string
 		queryType    uint16
 		queryDomain  string
 		configured   string
 		expectedCode int
+		expectEDE    bool
 		description  string
 	}{
 		{
@@ -561,28 +600,13 @@ func TestDNSForwarder_ResponseCodes(t *testing.T) {
 			description:  "RFC compliant REFUSED for unauthorized queries",
 		},
 		{
-			name:         "unsupported query type returns NOTIMP",
-			queryType:    dns.TypeMX,
+			name:         "unsupported query type returns NODATA",
+			queryType:    dns.TypeCAA,
 			queryDomain:  "example.com",
 			configured:   "example.com",
-			expectedCode: dns.RcodeNotImplemented,
-			description:  "RFC compliant NOTIMP for unsupported types",
-		},
-		{
-			name:         "CNAME query returns NOTIMP",
-			queryType:    dns.TypeCNAME,
-			queryDomain:  "example.com",
-			configured:   "example.com",
-			expectedCode: dns.RcodeNotImplemented,
-			description:  "CNAME queries not supported",
-		},
-		{
-			name:         "TXT query returns NOTIMP",
-			queryType:    dns.TypeTXT,
-			queryDomain:  "example.com",
-			configured:   "example.com",
-			expectedCode: dns.RcodeNotImplemented,
-			description:  "TXT queries not supported",
+			expectedCode: dns.RcodeSuccess,
+			expectEDE:    true,
+			description:  "Unsupported types answer NODATA, not NXDOMAIN/NOTIMP",
 		},
 	}

@@ -598,6 +622,7 @@ func TestDNSForwarder_ResponseCodes(t *testing.T) {

 			query := &dns.Msg{}
 			query.SetQuestion(dns.Fqdn(tt.queryDomain), tt.queryType)
+			query.SetEdns0(dns.DefaultMsgSize, false)

 			// Capture the written response
 			var writtenResp *dns.Msg
@@ -613,6 +638,288 @@ func TestDNSForwarder_ResponseCodes(t *testing.T) {
 			// Check the response written to the writer
 			require.NotNil(t, writtenResp, "Expected response to be written")
 			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectedCode, writtenResp.Rcode, tt.description)
+			assert.Empty(t, writtenResp.Answer, "Non-address response should carry no answers")
+
+			if tt.expectEDE {
+				require.NotNil(t, writtenResp.IsEdns0(), "EDNS0 client should get an OPT in the reply")
+				assert.True(t, hasEDE(writtenResp, dns.ExtendedErrorCodeNotSupported),
+					"unsupported type NODATA should carry EDE Not Supported")
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func hasEDE(m *dns.Msg, code uint16) bool {
+	opt := m.IsEdns0()
+	if opt == nil {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, o := range opt.Option {
+		if ede, ok := o.(*dns.EDNS0_EDE); ok && ede.InfoCode == code {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func TestDNSForwarder_RecordQueries(t *testing.T) {
+	notFound := &net.DNSError{IsNotFound: true, Name: "example.com"}
+
+	t.Run("MX records are forwarded", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+		forwarder := newRecordTestForwarder(t, mockResolver, "example.com")
+
+		mockResolver.On("LookupMX", mock.Anything, "example.com.").
+			Return([]*net.MX{{Host: "mail.example.com.", Pref: 10}}, nil).Once()
+
+		resp := runRecordQuery(t, forwarder, "example.com", dns.TypeMX)
+		require.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, resp.Rcode)
+		require.Len(t, resp.Answer, 1)
+		mx, ok := resp.Answer[0].(*dns.MX)
+		require.True(t, ok, "answer should be an MX record")
+		assert.Equal(t, uint16(10), mx.Preference)
+		assert.Equal(t, "mail.example.com.", mx.Mx)
+		mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("missing MX is NODATA not NXDOMAIN", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+		forwarder := newRecordTestForwarder(t, mockResolver, "example.com")
+
+		// A not-found cannot prove the name is absent (it may exist with only
+		// other record types), so it must answer NODATA, never NXDOMAIN.
+		mockResolver.On("LookupMX", mock.Anything, "example.com.").
+			Return(nil, notFound).Once()
+
+		resp := runRecordQuery(t, forwarder, "example.com", dns.TypeMX)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, resp.Rcode, "missing record must be NODATA")
+		assert.Empty(t, resp.Answer)
+		mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("NS records are forwarded", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+		forwarder := newRecordTestForwarder(t, mockResolver, "example.com")
+
+		mockResolver.On("LookupNS", mock.Anything, "example.com.").
+			Return([]*net.NS{{Host: "ns1.example.com."}}, nil).Once()
+
+		resp := runRecordQuery(t, forwarder, "example.com", dns.TypeNS)
+		require.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, resp.Rcode)
+		require.Len(t, resp.Answer, 1)
+		ns, ok := resp.Answer[0].(*dns.NS)
+		require.True(t, ok, "answer should be an NS record")
+		assert.Equal(t, "ns1.example.com.", ns.Ns)
+		mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("missing NS is NODATA", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+		forwarder := newRecordTestForwarder(t, mockResolver, "example.com")
+
+		mockResolver.On("LookupNS", mock.Anything, "example.com.").
+			Return(nil, notFound).Once()
+
+		resp := runRecordQuery(t, forwarder, "example.com", dns.TypeNS)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, resp.Rcode)
+		assert.Empty(t, resp.Answer)
+		mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("SRV records are forwarded", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+		forwarder := newRecordTestForwarder(t, mockResolver, "_sip._tcp.example.com")
+
+		mockResolver.On("LookupSRV", mock.Anything, "", "", "_sip._tcp.example.com.").
+			Return("", []*net.SRV{{Target: "sip.example.com.", Port: 5060, Priority: 10, Weight: 5}}, nil).Once()
+
+		resp := runRecordQuery(t, forwarder, "_sip._tcp.example.com", dns.TypeSRV)
+		require.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, resp.Rcode)
+		require.Len(t, resp.Answer, 1)
+		srv, ok := resp.Answer[0].(*dns.SRV)
+		require.True(t, ok, "answer should be an SRV record")
+		assert.Equal(t, "sip.example.com.", srv.Target)
+		assert.Equal(t, uint16(5060), srv.Port)
+		assert.Equal(t, uint16(10), srv.Priority)
+		mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("missing SRV is NODATA", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+		forwarder := newRecordTestForwarder(t, mockResolver, "_sip._tcp.example.com")
+
+		mockResolver.On("LookupSRV", mock.Anything, "", "", "_sip._tcp.example.com.").
+			Return("", nil, notFound).Once()
+
+		resp := runRecordQuery(t, forwarder, "_sip._tcp.example.com", dns.TypeSRV)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, resp.Rcode)
+		assert.Empty(t, resp.Answer)
+		mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("TXT records are forwarded", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+		forwarder := newRecordTestForwarder(t, mockResolver, "example.com")
+
+		mockResolver.On("LookupTXT", mock.Anything, "example.com.").
+			Return([]string{"v=spf1 -all"}, nil).Once()
+
+		resp := runRecordQuery(t, forwarder, "example.com", dns.TypeTXT)
+		require.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, resp.Rcode)
+		require.Len(t, resp.Answer, 1)
+		txt, ok := resp.Answer[0].(*dns.TXT)
+		require.True(t, ok, "answer should be a TXT record")
+		assert.Equal(t, []string{"v=spf1 -all"}, txt.Txt)
+		mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("CNAME record is forwarded", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+		forwarder := newRecordTestForwarder(t, mockResolver, "www.example.com")
+
+		mockResolver.On("LookupCNAME", mock.Anything, "www.example.com.").
+			Return("target.example.com.", nil).Once()
+
+		resp := runRecordQuery(t, forwarder, "www.example.com", dns.TypeCNAME)
+		require.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, resp.Rcode)
+		require.Len(t, resp.Answer, 1)
+		cname, ok := resp.Answer[0].(*dns.CNAME)
+		require.True(t, ok, "answer should be a CNAME record")
+		assert.Equal(t, "target.example.com.", cname.Target)
+		mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("CNAME equal to the name is NODATA", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+		forwarder := newRecordTestForwarder(t, mockResolver, "example.com")
+
+		// No CNAME exists: LookupCNAME echoes the queried name back.
+		mockResolver.On("LookupCNAME", mock.Anything, "example.com.").
+			Return("example.com.", nil).Once()
+
+		resp := runRecordQuery(t, forwarder, "example.com", dns.TypeCNAME)
+		assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, resp.Rcode)
+		assert.Empty(t, resp.Answer, "self-referential CNAME means no CNAME record")
+		mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("PTR record is forwarded", func(t *testing.T) {
+		mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+		forwarder := newRecordTestForwarder(t, mockResolver, "*.in-addr.arpa")
+
+		// The reverse name is parsed back to the address LookupAddr expects.
+		mockResolver.On("LookupAddr", mock.Anything, "1.2.3.4").
+			Return([]string{"host.example.com."}, nil).Once()
+
+		resp := runRecordQuery(t, forwarder, "4.3.2.1.in-addr.arpa", dns.TypePTR)
+		require.Equal(t, dns.RcodeSuccess, resp.Rcode)
+		require.Len(t, resp.Answer, 1)
+		ptr, ok := resp.Answer[0].(*dns.PTR)
+		require.True(t, ok, "answer should be a PTR record")
+		assert.Equal(t, "host.example.com.", ptr.Ptr)
+		mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+	})
+}
+
+func newRecordTestForwarder(t *testing.T, r resolver, configured string) *DNSForwarder {
+	t.Helper()
+	forwarder := NewDNSForwarder(netip.MustParseAddrPort("127.0.0.1:0"), 300, nil, &peer.Status{}, nil)
+	forwarder.resolver = r
+
+	d, err := domain.FromString(configured)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	forwarder.UpdateDomains([]*ForwarderEntry{{Domain: d, ResID: "test-res"}})
+	return forwarder
+}
+
+func runRecordQuery(t *testing.T, forwarder *DNSForwarder, qname string, qtype uint16) *dns.Msg {
+	t.Helper()
+	query := &dns.Msg{}
+	query.SetQuestion(dns.Fqdn(qname), qtype)
+
+	mockWriter := &test.MockResponseWriter{}
+	forwarder.handleDNSQuery(log.NewEntry(log.StandardLogger()), mockWriter, query, time.Now())
+
+	resp := mockWriter.GetLastResponse()
+	require.NotNil(t, resp, "expected response to be written")
+	return resp
+}
+
+func TestDNSForwarder_UpstreamFailureEDE(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		lookupErr   error
+		reqEdns     bool
+		wantEDE     bool
+		wantCode    uint16
+		wantTextHas string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:        "timeout with edns0",
+			lookupErr:   &net.DNSError{Err: "i/o timeout", Server: "10.0.0.53:53", IsTimeout: true},
+			reqEdns:     true,
+			wantEDE:     true,
+			wantCode:    edeNetbirdUpstreamTimeout,
+			wantTextHas: "netbird forwarder: upstream timeout",
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "server failure with edns0",
+			lookupErr:   &net.DNSError{Err: "server misbehaving", Server: "10.0.0.53:53"},
+			reqEdns:     true,
+			wantEDE:     true,
+			wantCode:    edeNetbirdUpstreamFailure,
+			wantTextHas: "netbird forwarder: upstream failure",
+		},
+		{
+			name:      "no edns0 in request omits ede",
+			lookupErr: &net.DNSError{Err: "server misbehaving", Server: "10.0.0.53:53"},
+			reqEdns:   false,
+			wantEDE:   false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			mockResolver := &MockResolver{}
+			forwarder := NewDNSForwarder(netip.MustParseAddrPort("127.0.0.1:0"), 300, nil, &peer.Status{}, nil)
+			forwarder.resolver = mockResolver
+
+			d, err := domain.FromString("example.com")
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			forwarder.UpdateDomains([]*ForwarderEntry{{Domain: d, ResID: "test-res"}})
+
+			mockResolver.On("LookupNetIP", mock.Anything, "ip4", "example.com.").
+				Return([]netip.Addr(nil), tt.lookupErr).Once()
+
+			query := &dns.Msg{}
+			query.SetQuestion("example.com.", dns.TypeA)
+			if tt.reqEdns {
+				query.SetEdns0(dns.DefaultMsgSize, false)
+			}
+
+			var writtenResp *dns.Msg
+			mockWriter := &test.MockResponseWriter{
+				WriteMsgFunc: func(m *dns.Msg) error {
+					writtenResp = m
+					return nil
+				},
+			}
+
+			forwarder.handleDNSQuery(log.NewEntry(log.StandardLogger()), mockWriter, query, time.Now())
+			mockResolver.AssertExpectations(t)
+
+			require.NotNil(t, writtenResp, "expected a response")
+			assert.Equal(t, dns.RcodeServerFailure, writtenResp.Rcode, "upstream failure must be SERVFAIL")
+
+			ede, ok := resutil.ExtractEDE(writtenResp)
+			if !tt.wantEDE {
+				assert.False(t, ok, "response must not carry EDE")
+				return
+			}
+			require.True(t, ok, "response must carry EDE")
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.wantCode, ede.InfoCode, "EDE info code")
+			assert.Contains(t, ede.ExtraText, tt.wantTextHas, "EDE extra-text")
+			assert.NotContains(t, ede.ExtraText, "10.0.0.53", "must not leak upstream server address")
 		})
 	}
 }
--- a/client/internal/engine.go
+++ b/client/internal/engine.go
@@ -86,6 +86,8 @@ const (

 var ErrResetConnection = fmt.Errorf("reset connection")

+var ErrEngineAlreadyStarted = errors.New("engine already started")
+
 type EngineConfig struct {
 	WgPort      int
 	WgIfaceName string
@@ -199,6 +201,8 @@ type Engine struct {
 	ctx    context.Context
 	cancel context.CancelFunc

+	started bool
+
 	wgInterface WGIface

 	udpMux *udpmux.UniversalUDPMuxDefault
@@ -279,9 +283,15 @@ func NewEngine(
 	services EngineServices,
 	mobileDep MobileDependency,
 ) *Engine {
+	// The engine is single-use: a fresh instance is built per connection
+	// cycle (see Client.run), so the run context is created once here rather
+	// than in Start.
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(clientCtx)
 	engine := &Engine{
 		clientCtx:          clientCtx,
 		clientCancel:       clientCancel,
+		ctx:                ctx,
+		cancel:             cancel,
 		signal:             services.SignalClient,
 		signaler:           peer.NewSignaler(services.SignalClient, config.WgPrivateKey),
 		mgmClient:          services.MgmClient,
@@ -314,8 +324,34 @@ func (e *Engine) Stop() error {
 		log.Debugf("tried stopping engine that is nil")
 		return nil
 	}
+	e.cancel()
 	e.syncMsgMux.Lock()

+	e.stopLocked()
+
+	e.syncMsgMux.Unlock()
+
+	timeout := e.calculateShutdownTimeout()
+	log.Debugf("waiting for goroutines to finish with timeout: %v", timeout)
+	shutdownCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), timeout)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	if err := waitWithContext(shutdownCtx, &e.shutdownWg); err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("shutdown timeout exceeded after %v, some goroutines may still be running", timeout)
+	}
+
+	log.Infof("stopped Netbird Engine")
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// stopLocked tears down everything Start may have brought up, in the order
+// teardown requires (DNS before the interface goes down, flow manager after).
+// The caller must hold syncMsgMux. It is shared by Stop and by Start's failure
+// path, so a partially-initialized engine is cleaned up the same way; every
+// step is nil-guarded. It does not wait on shutdownWg — the caller does that
+// after releasing the lock, since the goroutines also take syncMsgMux.
+func (e *Engine) stopLocked() {
 	if e.connMgr != nil {
 		e.connMgr.Close()
 	}
@@ -366,10 +402,6 @@ func (e *Engine) Stop() error {
 	// so dbus and friends don't complain because of a missing interface
 	e.stopDNSServer()

-	if e.cancel != nil {
-		e.cancel()
-	}
-
 	e.jobExecutorWG.Wait() // block until job goroutines finish

 	e.close()
@@ -388,21 +420,6 @@ func (e *Engine) Stop() error {
 	if err := e.stateManager.PersistState(context.Background()); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to persist state: %v", err)
 	}
-
-	e.syncMsgMux.Unlock()
-
-	timeout := e.calculateShutdownTimeout()
-	log.Debugf("waiting for goroutines to finish with timeout: %v", timeout)
-	shutdownCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), timeout)
-	defer cancel()
-
-	if err := waitWithContext(shutdownCtx, &e.shutdownWg); err != nil {
-		log.Warnf("shutdown timeout exceeded after %v, some goroutines may still be running", timeout)
-	}
-
-	log.Infof("stopped Netbird Engine")
-
-	return nil
 }

 // calculateShutdownTimeout returns shutdown timeout: 10s base + 100ms per peer, capped at 30s.
@@ -440,18 +457,38 @@ func waitWithContext(ctx context.Context, wg *sync.WaitGroup) error {
 // Start creates a new WireGuard tunnel interface and listens to events from Signal and Management services
 // Connections to remote peers are not established here.
 // However, they will be established once an event with a list of peers to connect to will be received from Management Service
-func (e *Engine) Start(netbirdConfig *mgmProto.NetbirdConfig, mgmtURL *url.URL) error {
+func (e *Engine) Start(netbirdConfig *mgmProto.NetbirdConfig, mgmtURL *url.URL) (err error) {
 	e.syncMsgMux.Lock()
 	defer e.syncMsgMux.Unlock()

-	if err := iface.ValidateMTU(e.config.MTU); err != nil {
+	// The engine is single-use. Reject a duplicate start and a start on an
+	// already-stopped engine (run context cancelled).
+	if e.started {
+		return ErrEngineAlreadyStarted
+	}
+
+	if ctxErr := e.ctx.Err(); ctxErr != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("engine already stopped: %w", ctxErr)
+	}
+
+	e.started = true
+
+	// Tear down any partially-initialized state on a failed start. Cancel the
+	// run context first so goroutines started before the failure (connMgr,
+	// srWatcher, monitors) unwind, then stopLocked mirrors Stop's teardown (we
+	// already hold syncMsgMux), cleaning up route/DNS/flow/state managers too,
+	// not just what close() covers.
+	defer func() {
+		if err != nil {
+			e.cancel()
+			e.stopLocked()
+		}
+	}()
+
+	if err = iface.ValidateMTU(e.config.MTU); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid MTU configuration: %w", err)
 	}

-	if e.cancel != nil {
-		e.cancel()
-	}
-	e.ctx, e.cancel = context.WithCancel(e.clientCtx)
 	e.exposeManager = expose.NewManager(e.ctx, e.mgmClient)

 	wgIface, err := e.newWgIface()
@@ -485,13 +522,11 @@ func (e *Engine) Start(netbirdConfig *mgmProto.NetbirdConfig, mgmtURL *url.URL)

 	initialRoutes, dnsConfig, dnsFeatureFlag, err := e.readInitialSettings()
 	if err != nil {
-		e.close()
 		return fmt.Errorf("read initial settings: %w", err)
 	}

 	dnsServer, err := e.newDnsServer(dnsConfig)
 	if err != nil {
-		e.close()
 		return fmt.Errorf("create dns server: %w", err)
 	}
 	e.dnsServer = dnsServer
@@ -526,7 +561,6 @@ func (e *Engine) Start(netbirdConfig *mgmProto.NetbirdConfig, mgmtURL *url.URL)

 	if err = e.wgInterfaceCreate(); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed creating tunnel interface %s: [%s]", e.config.WgIfaceName, err.Error())
-		e.close()
 		return fmt.Errorf("create wg interface: %w", err)
 	}

@@ -535,7 +569,6 @@ func (e *Engine) Start(netbirdConfig *mgmProto.NetbirdConfig, mgmtURL *url.URL)
 	}

 	if err := e.createFirewall(); err != nil {
-		e.close()
 		return err
 	}

@@ -547,7 +580,6 @@ func (e *Engine) Start(netbirdConfig *mgmProto.NetbirdConfig, mgmtURL *url.URL)
 	e.udpMux, err = e.wgInterface.Up()
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to pull up wgInterface [%s]: %s", e.wgInterface.Name(), err.Error())
-		e.close()
 		return fmt.Errorf("up wg interface: %w", err)
 	}

@@ -572,9 +604,7 @@ func (e *Engine) Start(netbirdConfig *mgmProto.NetbirdConfig, mgmtURL *url.URL)
 		e.acl = acl.NewDefaultManager(e.firewall)
 	}

-	err = e.dnsServer.Initialize()
-	if err != nil {
-		e.close()
+	if err := e.dnsServer.Initialize(); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("initialize dns server: %w", err)
 	}

@@ -586,7 +616,9 @@ func (e *Engine) Start(netbirdConfig *mgmProto.NetbirdConfig, mgmtURL *url.URL)
 	e.srWatcher = guard.NewSRWatcher(e.signal, e.relayManager, e.mobileDep.IFaceDiscover, iceCfg)
 	e.srWatcher.Start(peer.IsForceRelayed())

-	e.receiveSignalEvents()
+	if err = e.receiveSignalEvents(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	e.receiveManagementEvents()
 	e.receiveJobEvents()

@@ -638,7 +670,6 @@ func (e *Engine) createFirewall() error {

 func (e *Engine) initFirewall() error {
 	if err := e.routeManager.SetFirewall(e.firewall); err != nil {
-		e.close()
 		return fmt.Errorf("set firewall: %w", err)
 	}

@@ -1035,7 +1066,7 @@ func (e *Engine) updateChecksIfNew(checks []*mgmProto.Checks) error {
 	}
 	e.checks = checks

-	info, err := system.GetInfoWithChecks(e.ctx, checks)
+	info, err := system.GetInfoWithChecks(e.ctx, checks, e.overlayAddresses()...)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Warnf("failed to get system info with checks: %v", err)
 		info = system.GetInfo(e.ctx)
@@ -1066,6 +1097,20 @@ func (e *Engine) updateChecksIfNew(checks []*mgmProto.Checks) error {
 	return nil
 }

+// overlayAddresses returns our own WireGuard overlay address (v4 and v6) so it
+// can be excluded from the reported network addresses; the interface coming and
+// going otherwise churns the peer meta on the management server.
+func (e *Engine) overlayAddresses() []netip.Addr {
+	var ips []netip.Addr
+	if e.config.WgAddr.IP.IsValid() {
+		ips = append(ips, e.config.WgAddr.IP)
+	}
+	if e.config.WgAddr.HasIPv6() {
+		ips = append(ips, e.config.WgAddr.IPv6)
+	}
+	return ips
+}
+
 func (e *Engine) updateConfig(conf *mgmProto.PeerConfig) error {
 	if e.wgInterface == nil {
 		return errors.New("wireguard interface is not initialized")
@@ -1209,7 +1254,7 @@ func (e *Engine) receiveManagementEvents() {
 	e.shutdownWg.Add(1)
 	go func() {
 		defer e.shutdownWg.Done()
-		info, err := system.GetInfoWithChecks(e.ctx, e.checks)
+		info, err := system.GetInfoWithChecks(e.ctx, e.checks, e.overlayAddresses()...)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Warnf("failed to get system info with checks: %v", err)
 			info = system.GetInfo(e.ctx)
@@ -1698,7 +1743,7 @@ func (e *Engine) createPeerConn(pubKey string, allowedIPs []netip.Prefix, agentV
 }

 // receiveSignalEvents connects to the Signal Service event stream to negotiate connection with remote peers
-func (e *Engine) receiveSignalEvents() {
+func (e *Engine) receiveSignalEvents() error {
 	e.shutdownWg.Add(1)
 	go func() {
 		defer e.shutdownWg.Done()
@@ -1769,7 +1814,12 @@ func (e *Engine) receiveSignalEvents() {
 		}
 	}()

-	e.signal.WaitStreamConnected()
+	// todo: consider to remove this blocker. I do not see benefit to block the Start operations
+	e.signal.WaitStreamConnected(e.ctx)
+	if err := e.ctx.Err(); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("wait for signal stream: %w", err)
+	}
+	return nil
 }

 func (e *Engine) parseNATExternalIPMappings() []string {
--- a/client/internal/engine_privileged_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/engine_privileged_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,565 @@
+//go:build privileged
+
+package internal
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
+	"github.com/google/uuid"
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
+	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/wgctrl/wgtypes"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/keepalive"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/device"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/wgaddr"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/dns"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
+	nbssh "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/system"
+	nbdns "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/dns"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/controllers/network_map/controller"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/controllers/network_map/update_channel"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/peers"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/peers/ephemeral/manager"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/server/config"
+	nbgrpc "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/shared/grpc"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/activity"
+	nbcache "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/cache"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/groups"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/integrations/integrated_validator/validator"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/integrations/port_forwarding"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/job"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/permissions"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/settings"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/store"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/telemetry"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/types"
+	mgmt "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/client"
+	mgmtProto "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/proto"
+	relayClient "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/relay/client"
+	signal "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/signal/client"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/signal/proto"
+	signalServer "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/signal/server"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/util"
+)
+
+func TestEngine_SSH(t *testing.T) {
+	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	sshKey, err := nbssh.GeneratePrivateKey(nbssh.ED25519)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(CtxInitState(context.Background()))
+	defer cancel()
+
+	relayMgr := relayClient.NewManager(ctx, nil, key.PublicKey().String(), iface.DefaultMTU)
+	engine := NewEngine(
+		ctx, cancel,
+		&EngineConfig{
+			WgIfaceName:      "utun101",
+			WgAddr:           wgaddr.MustParseWGAddress("100.64.0.1/24"),
+			WgPrivateKey:     key,
+			WgPort:           33100,
+			ServerSSHAllowed: true,
+			MTU:              iface.DefaultMTU,
+			SSHKey:           sshKey,
+		},
+		EngineServices{
+			SignalClient:   &signal.MockClient{},
+			MgmClient:      &mgmt.MockClient{},
+			RelayManager:   relayMgr,
+			StatusRecorder: peer.NewRecorder("https://mgm"),
+		},
+		MobileDependency{},
+	)
+
+	engine.dnsServer = &dns.MockServer{
+		UpdateDNSServerFunc: func(serial uint64, update nbdns.Config) error { return nil },
+	}
+
+	err = engine.Start(nil, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	defer func() {
+		err := engine.Stop()
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+	}()
+
+	peerWithSSH := &mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{
+		WgPubKey:   "MNHf3Ma6z6mdLbriAJbqhX7+nM/B71lgw2+91q3LfhU=",
+		AllowedIps: []string{"100.64.0.21/24"},
+		SshConfig: &mgmtProto.SSHConfig{
+			SshPubKey: []byte("ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIFATYCqaQw/9id1Qkq3n16JYhDhXraI6Pc1fgB8ynEfQ"),
+		},
+	}
+
+	// SSH server is not enabled so SSH config of a remote peer should be ignored
+	networkMap := &mgmtProto.NetworkMap{
+		Serial:             6,
+		PeerConfig:         nil,
+		RemotePeers:        []*mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{peerWithSSH},
+		RemotePeersIsEmpty: false,
+	}
+
+	err = engine.updateNetworkMap(networkMap)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Nil(t, engine.sshServer)
+
+	// SSH server is enabled, therefore SSH config should be applied
+	networkMap = &mgmtProto.NetworkMap{
+		Serial: 7,
+		PeerConfig: &mgmtProto.PeerConfig{Address: "100.64.0.1/24",
+			SshConfig: &mgmtProto.SSHConfig{
+				SshEnabled: true,
+				JwtConfig: &mgmtProto.JWTConfig{
+					Issuer:       "test-issuer",
+					Audience:     "test-audience",
+					KeysLocation: "test-keys",
+					MaxTokenAge:  3600,
+				},
+			}},
+		RemotePeers:        []*mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{peerWithSSH},
+		RemotePeersIsEmpty: false,
+	}
+
+	err = engine.updateNetworkMap(networkMap)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	time.Sleep(250 * time.Millisecond)
+	assert.NotNil(t, engine.sshServer)
+
+	// now remove peer
+	networkMap = &mgmtProto.NetworkMap{
+		Serial:             8,
+		RemotePeers:        []*mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{},
+		RemotePeersIsEmpty: false,
+	}
+
+	err = engine.updateNetworkMap(networkMap)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	// time.Sleep(250 * time.Millisecond)
+	assert.NotNil(t, engine.sshServer)
+
+	// now disable SSH server
+	networkMap = &mgmtProto.NetworkMap{
+		Serial: 9,
+		PeerConfig: &mgmtProto.PeerConfig{Address: "100.64.0.1/24",
+			SshConfig: &mgmtProto.SSHConfig{SshEnabled: false}},
+		RemotePeers:        []*mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{peerWithSSH},
+		RemotePeersIsEmpty: false,
+	}
+
+	err = engine.updateNetworkMap(networkMap)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	assert.Nil(t, engine.sshServer)
+}
+
+func TestEngine_Sync(t *testing.T) {
+	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(CtxInitState(context.Background()))
+	defer cancel()
+
+	// feed updates to Engine via mocked Management client
+	updates := make(chan *mgmtProto.SyncResponse)
+	defer close(updates)
+	syncFunc := func(ctx context.Context, info *system.Info, msgHandler func(msg *mgmtProto.SyncResponse) error) error {
+		for msg := range updates {
+			err := msgHandler(msg)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	}
+	relayMgr := relayClient.NewManager(ctx, nil, key.PublicKey().String(), iface.DefaultMTU)
+	engine := NewEngine(ctx, cancel, &EngineConfig{
+		WgIfaceName:  "utun103",
+		WgAddr:       wgaddr.MustParseWGAddress("100.64.0.1/24"),
+		WgPrivateKey: key,
+		WgPort:       33100,
+		MTU:          iface.DefaultMTU,
+	}, EngineServices{
+		SignalClient:   &signal.MockClient{},
+		MgmClient:      &mgmt.MockClient{SyncFunc: syncFunc},
+		RelayManager:   relayMgr,
+		StatusRecorder: peer.NewRecorder("https://mgm"),
+	}, MobileDependency{})
+	engine.ctx = ctx
+
+	engine.dnsServer = &dns.MockServer{
+		UpdateDNSServerFunc: func(serial uint64, update nbdns.Config) error { return nil },
+	}
+
+	defer func() {
+		err := engine.Stop()
+		if err != nil {
+			return
+		}
+	}()
+
+	err = engine.Start(nil, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+		return
+	}
+
+	peer1 := &mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{
+		WgPubKey:   "RRHf3Ma6z6mdLbriAJbqhX7+nM/B71lgw2+91q3LfhU=",
+		AllowedIps: []string{"100.64.0.10/24"},
+	}
+	peer2 := &mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{
+		WgPubKey:   "LLHf3Ma6z6mdLbriAJbqhX9+nM/B71lgw2+91q3LlhU=",
+		AllowedIps: []string{"100.64.0.11/24"},
+	}
+	peer3 := &mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{
+		WgPubKey:   "GGHf3Ma6z6mdLbriAJbqhX9+nM/B71lgw2+91q3LlhU=",
+		AllowedIps: []string{"100.64.0.12/24"},
+	}
+	// 1st update with just 1 peer and serial larger than the current serial of the engine => apply update
+	updates <- &mgmtProto.SyncResponse{
+		NetworkMap: &mgmtProto.NetworkMap{
+			Serial:             10,
+			PeerConfig:         nil,
+			RemotePeers:        []*mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{peer1, peer2, peer3},
+			RemotePeersIsEmpty: false,
+		},
+	}
+
+	timeout := time.After(time.Second * 2)
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-timeout:
+			t.Fatalf("timeout while waiting for test to finish")
+			return
+		default:
+		}
+
+		if getPeers(engine) == 3 && engine.networkSerial == 10 {
+			break
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestEngine_MultiplePeers(t *testing.T) {
+	// log.SetLevel(log.DebugLevel)
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(CtxInitState(context.Background()))
+	defer cancel()
+
+	sigServer, signalAddr, err := startSignal(t)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer sigServer.Stop()
+	mgmtServer, mgmtAddr, err := startManagement(t, t.TempDir(), "../testdata/store.sql")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+		return
+	}
+	defer mgmtServer.GracefulStop()
+
+	setupKey := "A2C8E62B-38F5-4553-B31E-DD66C696CEBB"
+
+	mu := sync.Mutex{}
+	engines := []*Engine{}
+	numPeers := 10
+	wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
+	wg.Add(numPeers)
+	// create and start peers
+	for i := 0; i < numPeers; i++ {
+		j := i
+		go func() {
+			engine, err := createEngine(ctx, cancel, setupKey, j, mgmtAddr, signalAddr)
+			if err != nil {
+				wg.Done()
+				t.Errorf("unable to create the engine for peer %d with error %v", j, err)
+				return
+			}
+			engine.dnsServer = &dns.MockServer{}
+			mu.Lock()
+			defer mu.Unlock()
+			guid := fmt.Sprintf("{%s}", uuid.New().String())
+			device.CustomWindowsGUIDString = strings.ToLower(guid)
+			err = engine.Start(nil, nil)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("unable to start engine for peer %d with error %v", j, err)
+				wg.Done()
+				return
+			}
+			engines = append(engines, engine)
+			wg.Done()
+		}()
+	}
+
+	// wait until all have been created and started
+	wg.Wait()
+	if len(engines) != numPeers {
+		t.Fatal("not all peers were started")
+	}
+	// check whether all the peer have expected peers connected
+
+	expectedConnected := numPeers * (numPeers - 1)
+
+	// adjust according to timeouts
+	timeout := 50 * time.Second
+	timeoutChan := time.After(timeout)
+	ticker := time.NewTicker(time.Second)
+	defer ticker.Stop()
+loop:
+	for {
+		select {
+		case <-timeoutChan:
+			t.Fatalf("waiting for expected connections timeout after %s", timeout.String())
+			break loop
+		case <-ticker.C:
+			totalConnected := 0
+			for _, engine := range engines {
+				totalConnected += getConnectedPeers(engine)
+			}
+			if totalConnected == expectedConnected {
+				log.Infof("total connected=%d", totalConnected)
+				break loop
+			}
+			log.Infof("total connected=%d", totalConnected)
+		}
+	}
+	// cleanup test
+	for n, peerEngine := range engines {
+		t.Logf("stopping peer with interface %s from multipeer test, loopIndex %d", peerEngine.wgInterface.Name(), n)
+		errStop := peerEngine.mgmClient.Close()
+		if errStop != nil {
+			log.Infoln("got error trying to close management clients from engine: ", errStop)
+		}
+		errStop = peerEngine.Stop()
+		if errStop != nil {
+			log.Infoln("got error trying to close testing peers engine: ", errStop)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+var (
+	kaep = keepalive.EnforcementPolicy{
+		MinTime:             15 * time.Second,
+		PermitWithoutStream: true,
+	}
+
+	kasp = keepalive.ServerParameters{
+		MaxConnectionIdle:     15 * time.Second,
+		MaxConnectionAgeGrace: 5 * time.Second,
+		Time:                  5 * time.Second,
+		Timeout:               2 * time.Second,
+	}
+)
+
+func createEngine(ctx context.Context, cancel context.CancelFunc, setupKey string, i int, mgmtAddr string, signalAddr string) (*Engine, error) {
+	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	mgmtClient, err := mgmt.NewClient(ctx, mgmtAddr, key, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	signalClient, err := signal.NewClient(ctx, signalAddr, key, false)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	info := system.GetInfo(ctx)
+	resp, err := mgmtClient.Register(setupKey, "", info, nil, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	var ifaceName string
+	if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
+		ifaceName = fmt.Sprintf("utun1%d", i)
+	} else {
+		ifaceName = fmt.Sprintf("wt%d", i)
+	}
+
+	wgPort := 33100 + i
+	conf := &EngineConfig{
+		WgIfaceName:  ifaceName,
+		WgAddr:       wgaddr.MustParseWGAddress(resp.PeerConfig.Address),
+		WgPrivateKey: key,
+		WgPort:       wgPort,
+		MTU:          iface.DefaultMTU,
+	}
+
+	relayMgr := relayClient.NewManager(ctx, nil, key.PublicKey().String(), iface.DefaultMTU)
+	e, err := NewEngine(ctx, cancel, conf, EngineServices{
+		SignalClient:   signalClient,
+		MgmClient:      mgmtClient,
+		RelayManager:   relayMgr,
+		StatusRecorder: peer.NewRecorder("https://mgm"),
+	}, MobileDependency{}), nil
+	e.ctx = ctx
+	return e, err
+}
+
+func startSignal(t *testing.T) (*grpc.Server, string, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	s := grpc.NewServer(grpc.KeepaliveEnforcementPolicy(kaep), grpc.KeepaliveParams(kasp))
+
+	lis, err := net.Listen("tcp", "localhost:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("failed to listen: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	srv, err := signalServer.NewServer(context.Background(), otel.Meter(""))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	proto.RegisterSignalExchangeServer(s, srv)
+
+	go func() {
+		if err = s.Serve(lis); err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("failed to serve: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return s, lis.Addr().String(), nil
+}
+
+func startManagement(t *testing.T, dataDir, testFile string) (*grpc.Server, string, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	config := &config.Config{
+		Stuns:      []*config.Host{},
+		TURNConfig: &config.TURNConfig{},
+		Relay: &config.Relay{
+			Addresses:      []string{"127.0.0.1:1234"},
+			CredentialsTTL: util.Duration{Duration: time.Hour},
+			Secret:         "222222222222222222",
+		},
+		Signal: &config.Host{
+			Proto: "http",
+			URI:   "localhost:10000",
+		},
+		Datadir:    dataDir,
+		HttpConfig: nil,
+	}
+
+	lis, err := net.Listen("tcp", "localhost:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	s := grpc.NewServer(grpc.KeepaliveEnforcementPolicy(kaep), grpc.KeepaliveParams(kasp))
+
+	store, cleanUp, err := store.NewTestStoreFromSQL(context.Background(), testFile, config.Datadir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(cleanUp)
+
+	eventStore := &activity.InMemoryEventStore{}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+
+	permissionsManager := permissions.NewManager(store)
+	peersManager := peers.NewManager(store, permissionsManager)
+	jobManager := job.NewJobManager(nil, store, peersManager)
+
+	cacheStore, err := nbcache.NewStore(context.Background(), 100*time.Millisecond, 300*time.Millisecond, 100)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+
+	ia, _ := validator.NewIntegratedValidator(context.Background(), peersManager, nil, eventStore, cacheStore)
+
+	metrics, err := telemetry.NewDefaultAppMetrics(context.Background())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
+	t.Cleanup(ctrl.Finish)
+	settingsMockManager := settings.NewMockManager(ctrl)
+	settingsMockManager.EXPECT().
+		GetSettings(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).
+		Return(&types.Settings{}, nil).
+		AnyTimes()
+	settingsMockManager.EXPECT().
+		GetExtraSettings(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).
+		Return(&types.ExtraSettings{}, nil).
+		AnyTimes()
+
+	groupsManager := groups.NewManagerMock()
+
+	updateManager := update_channel.NewPeersUpdateManager(metrics)
+	requestBuffer := server.NewAccountRequestBuffer(context.Background(), store)
+	networkMapController := controller.NewController(context.Background(), store, metrics, updateManager, requestBuffer, server.MockIntegratedValidator{}, settingsMockManager, "netbird.selfhosted", port_forwarding.NewControllerMock(), manager.NewEphemeralManager(store, peersManager), config)
+	accountManager, err := server.BuildManager(context.Background(), config, store, networkMapController, jobManager, nil, "", eventStore, nil, false, ia, metrics, port_forwarding.NewControllerMock(), settingsMockManager, permissionsManager, false, cacheStore)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+
+	secretsManager, err := nbgrpc.NewTimeBasedAuthSecretsManager(updateManager, config.TURNConfig, config.Relay, settingsMockManager, groupsManager)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	mgmtServer, err := nbgrpc.NewServer(config, accountManager, settingsMockManager, jobManager, secretsManager, nil, nil, &server.MockIntegratedValidator{}, networkMapController, nil, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	mgmtProto.RegisterManagementServiceServer(s, mgmtServer)
+	go func() {
+		if err = s.Serve(lis); err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("failed to serve: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return s, lis.Addr().String(), nil
+}
+
+// getConnectedPeers returns a connection Status or nil if peer connection wasn't found
+func getConnectedPeers(e *Engine) int {
+	e.syncMsgMux.Lock()
+	defer e.syncMsgMux.Unlock()
+	i := 0
+	for _, id := range e.peerStore.PeersPubKey() {
+		conn, _ := e.peerStore.PeerConn(id)
+		if conn.IsConnected() {
+			i++
+		}
+	}
+	return i
+}
+
+func getPeers(e *Engine) int {
+	e.syncMsgMux.Lock()
+	defer e.syncMsgMux.Unlock()
+
+	return len(e.peerStore.PeersPubKey())
+}
--- a/client/internal/engine_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/engine_test.go
@@ -6,37 +6,18 @@ import (
 	"net"
 	"net/netip"
 	"os"
-	"runtime"
 	"strings"
 	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"

-	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
-	"github.com/google/uuid"
-	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
 	wgdevice "golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/device"
 	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/tun/netstack"
 	"golang.zx2c4.com/wireguard/wgctrl/wgtypes"
-	"google.golang.org/grpc"
-	"google.golang.org/grpc/keepalive"

 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/stdnet"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/job"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/integrations/integrated_validator/validator"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/controllers/network_map/controller"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/controllers/network_map/update_channel"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/peers"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/peers/ephemeral/manager"
-	nbgrpc "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/shared/grpc"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/server/config"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/groups"

 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/iface/configurer"
@@ -50,18 +31,7 @@ import (
 	icemaker "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer/ice"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/routemanager"
-	nbssh "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/system"
 	nbdns "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/dns"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/activity"
-	nbcache "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/cache"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/integrations/port_forwarding"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/permissions"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/settings"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/store"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/telemetry"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/types"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/monotime"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/route"
 	mgmt "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/client"
@@ -69,25 +39,9 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/netiputil"
 	relayClient "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/relay/client"
 	signal "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/signal/client"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/signal/proto"
-	signalServer "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/signal/server"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/util"
 )

-var (
-	kaep = keepalive.EnforcementPolicy{
-		MinTime:             15 * time.Second,
-		PermitWithoutStream: true,
-	}
-
-	kasp = keepalive.ServerParameters{
-		MaxConnectionIdle:     15 * time.Second,
-		MaxConnectionAgeGrace: 5 * time.Second,
-		Time:                  5 * time.Second,
-		Timeout:               2 * time.Second,
-	}
-)
-
 type MockWGIface struct {
 	CreateFunc                 func() error
 	CreateOnAndroidFunc        func(routeRange []string, ip string, domains []string) error
@@ -234,129 +188,6 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	os.Exit(code)
 }

-func TestEngine_SSH(t *testing.T) {
-	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	sshKey, err := nbssh.GeneratePrivateKey(nbssh.ED25519)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	defer cancel()
-
-	relayMgr := relayClient.NewManager(ctx, nil, key.PublicKey().String(), iface.DefaultMTU)
-	engine := NewEngine(
-		ctx, cancel,
-		&EngineConfig{
-			WgIfaceName:      "utun101",
-			WgAddr:           wgaddr.MustParseWGAddress("100.64.0.1/24"),
-			WgPrivateKey:     key,
-			WgPort:           33100,
-			ServerSSHAllowed: true,
-			MTU:              iface.DefaultMTU,
-			SSHKey:           sshKey,
-		},
-		EngineServices{
-			SignalClient:   &signal.MockClient{},
-			MgmClient:      &mgmt.MockClient{},
-			RelayManager:   relayMgr,
-			StatusRecorder: peer.NewRecorder("https://mgm"),
-		},
-		MobileDependency{},
-	)
-
-	engine.dnsServer = &dns.MockServer{
-		UpdateDNSServerFunc: func(serial uint64, update nbdns.Config) error { return nil },
-	}
-
-	err = engine.Start(nil, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	defer func() {
-		err := engine.Stop()
-		if err != nil {
-			return
-		}
-	}()
-
-	peerWithSSH := &mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{
-		WgPubKey:   "MNHf3Ma6z6mdLbriAJbqhX7+nM/B71lgw2+91q3LfhU=",
-		AllowedIps: []string{"100.64.0.21/24"},
-		SshConfig: &mgmtProto.SSHConfig{
-			SshPubKey: []byte("ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAIFATYCqaQw/9id1Qkq3n16JYhDhXraI6Pc1fgB8ynEfQ"),
-		},
-	}
-
-	// SSH server is not enabled so SSH config of a remote peer should be ignored
-	networkMap := &mgmtProto.NetworkMap{
-		Serial:             6,
-		PeerConfig:         nil,
-		RemotePeers:        []*mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{peerWithSSH},
-		RemotePeersIsEmpty: false,
-	}
-
-	err = engine.updateNetworkMap(networkMap)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	assert.Nil(t, engine.sshServer)
-
-	// SSH server is enabled, therefore SSH config should be applied
-	networkMap = &mgmtProto.NetworkMap{
-		Serial: 7,
-		PeerConfig: &mgmtProto.PeerConfig{Address: "100.64.0.1/24",
-			SshConfig: &mgmtProto.SSHConfig{
-				SshEnabled: true,
-				JwtConfig: &mgmtProto.JWTConfig{
-					Issuer:       "test-issuer",
-					Audience:     "test-audience",
-					KeysLocation: "test-keys",
-					MaxTokenAge:  3600,
-				},
-			}},
-		RemotePeers:        []*mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{peerWithSSH},
-		RemotePeersIsEmpty: false,
-	}
-
-	err = engine.updateNetworkMap(networkMap)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	time.Sleep(250 * time.Millisecond)
-	assert.NotNil(t, engine.sshServer)
-
-	// now remove peer
-	networkMap = &mgmtProto.NetworkMap{
-		Serial:             8,
-		RemotePeers:        []*mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{},
-		RemotePeersIsEmpty: false,
-	}
-
-	err = engine.updateNetworkMap(networkMap)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	// time.Sleep(250 * time.Millisecond)
-	assert.NotNil(t, engine.sshServer)
-
-	// now disable SSH server
-	networkMap = &mgmtProto.NetworkMap{
-		Serial: 9,
-		PeerConfig: &mgmtProto.PeerConfig{Address: "100.64.0.1/24",
-			SshConfig: &mgmtProto.SSHConfig{SshEnabled: false}},
-		RemotePeers:        []*mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{peerWithSSH},
-		RemotePeersIsEmpty: false,
-	}
-
-	err = engine.updateNetworkMap(networkMap)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	assert.Nil(t, engine.sshServer)
-}
-
 func TestEngine_SSHUpdateLogic(t *testing.T) {
 	// Test that SSH server start/stop logic works based on config
 	engine := &Engine{
@@ -426,7 +257,7 @@ func TestEngine_UpdateNetworkMap(t *testing.T) {
 		return
 	}

-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(CtxInitState(context.Background()))
 	defer cancel()

 	relayMgr := relayClient.NewManager(ctx, nil, key.PublicKey().String(), iface.DefaultMTU)
@@ -631,97 +462,6 @@ func TestEngine_UpdateNetworkMap(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-func TestEngine_Sync(t *testing.T) {
-	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	defer cancel()
-
-	// feed updates to Engine via mocked Management client
-	updates := make(chan *mgmtProto.SyncResponse)
-	defer close(updates)
-	syncFunc := func(ctx context.Context, info *system.Info, msgHandler func(msg *mgmtProto.SyncResponse) error) error {
-		for msg := range updates {
-			err := msgHandler(msg)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-		}
-		return nil
-	}
-	relayMgr := relayClient.NewManager(ctx, nil, key.PublicKey().String(), iface.DefaultMTU)
-	engine := NewEngine(ctx, cancel, &EngineConfig{
-		WgIfaceName:  "utun103",
-		WgAddr:       wgaddr.MustParseWGAddress("100.64.0.1/24"),
-		WgPrivateKey: key,
-		WgPort:       33100,
-		MTU:          iface.DefaultMTU,
-	}, EngineServices{
-		SignalClient:   &signal.MockClient{},
-		MgmClient:      &mgmt.MockClient{SyncFunc: syncFunc},
-		RelayManager:   relayMgr,
-		StatusRecorder: peer.NewRecorder("https://mgm"),
-	}, MobileDependency{})
-	engine.ctx = ctx
-
-	engine.dnsServer = &dns.MockServer{
-		UpdateDNSServerFunc: func(serial uint64, update nbdns.Config) error { return nil },
-	}
-
-	defer func() {
-		err := engine.Stop()
-		if err != nil {
-			return
-		}
-	}()
-
-	err = engine.Start(nil, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-		return
-	}
-
-	peer1 := &mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{
-		WgPubKey:   "RRHf3Ma6z6mdLbriAJbqhX7+nM/B71lgw2+91q3LfhU=",
-		AllowedIps: []string{"100.64.0.10/24"},
-	}
-	peer2 := &mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{
-		WgPubKey:   "LLHf3Ma6z6mdLbriAJbqhX9+nM/B71lgw2+91q3LlhU=",
-		AllowedIps: []string{"100.64.0.11/24"},
-	}
-	peer3 := &mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{
-		WgPubKey:   "GGHf3Ma6z6mdLbriAJbqhX9+nM/B71lgw2+91q3LlhU=",
-		AllowedIps: []string{"100.64.0.12/24"},
-	}
-	// 1st update with just 1 peer and serial larger than the current serial of the engine => apply update
-	updates <- &mgmtProto.SyncResponse{
-		NetworkMap: &mgmtProto.NetworkMap{
-			Serial:             10,
-			PeerConfig:         nil,
-			RemotePeers:        []*mgmtProto.RemotePeerConfig{peer1, peer2, peer3},
-			RemotePeersIsEmpty: false,
-		},
-	}
-
-	timeout := time.After(time.Second * 2)
-	for {
-		select {
-		case <-timeout:
-			t.Fatalf("timeout while waiting for test to finish")
-			return
-		default:
-		}
-
-		if getPeers(engine) == 3 && engine.networkSerial == 10 {
-			break
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 func TestEngine_UpdateNetworkMapWithRoutes(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
 		name                 string
@@ -817,7 +557,7 @@ func TestEngine_UpdateNetworkMapWithRoutes(t *testing.T) {
 				return
 			}

-			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(CtxInitState(context.Background()))
 			defer cancel()

 			wgIfaceName := fmt.Sprintf("utun%d", 104+n)
@@ -1024,7 +764,7 @@ func TestEngine_UpdateNetworkMapWithDNSUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 				return
 			}

-			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(CtxInitState(context.Background()))
 			defer cancel()

 			wgIfaceName := fmt.Sprintf("utun%d", 104+n)
@@ -1105,104 +845,6 @@ func TestEngine_UpdateNetworkMapWithDNSUpdate(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-func TestEngine_MultiplePeers(t *testing.T) {
-	// log.SetLevel(log.DebugLevel)
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(CtxInitState(context.Background()))
-	defer cancel()
-
-	sigServer, signalAddr, err := startSignal(t)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-		return
-	}
-	defer sigServer.Stop()
-	mgmtServer, mgmtAddr, err := startManagement(t, t.TempDir(), "../testdata/store.sql")
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-		return
-	}
-	defer mgmtServer.GracefulStop()
-
-	setupKey := "A2C8E62B-38F5-4553-B31E-DD66C696CEBB"
-
-	mu := sync.Mutex{}
-	engines := []*Engine{}
-	numPeers := 10
-	wg := sync.WaitGroup{}
-	wg.Add(numPeers)
-	// create and start peers
-	for i := 0; i < numPeers; i++ {
-		j := i
-		go func() {
-			engine, err := createEngine(ctx, cancel, setupKey, j, mgmtAddr, signalAddr)
-			if err != nil {
-				wg.Done()
-				t.Errorf("unable to create the engine for peer %d with error %v", j, err)
-				return
-			}
-			engine.dnsServer = &dns.MockServer{}
-			mu.Lock()
-			defer mu.Unlock()
-			guid := fmt.Sprintf("{%s}", uuid.New().String())
-			device.CustomWindowsGUIDString = strings.ToLower(guid)
-			err = engine.Start(nil, nil)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Errorf("unable to start engine for peer %d with error %v", j, err)
-				wg.Done()
-				return
-			}
-			engines = append(engines, engine)
-			wg.Done()
-		}()
-	}
-
-	// wait until all have been created and started
-	wg.Wait()
-	if len(engines) != numPeers {
-		t.Fatal("not all peers was started")
-	}
-	// check whether all the peer have expected peers connected
-
-	expectedConnected := numPeers * (numPeers - 1)
-
-	// adjust according to timeouts
-	timeout := 50 * time.Second
-	timeoutChan := time.After(timeout)
-	ticker := time.NewTicker(time.Second)
-	defer ticker.Stop()
-loop:
-	for {
-		select {
-		case <-timeoutChan:
-			t.Fatalf("waiting for expected connections timeout after %s", timeout.String())
-			break loop
-		case <-ticker.C:
-			totalConnected := 0
-			for _, engine := range engines {
-				totalConnected += getConnectedPeers(engine)
-			}
-			if totalConnected == expectedConnected {
-				log.Infof("total connected=%d", totalConnected)
-				break loop
-			}
-			log.Infof("total connected=%d", totalConnected)
-		}
-	}
-	// cleanup test
-	for n, peerEngine := range engines {
-		t.Logf("stopping peer with interface %s from multipeer test, loopIndex %d", peerEngine.wgInterface.Name(), n)
-		errStop := peerEngine.mgmClient.Close()
-		if errStop != nil {
-			log.Infoln("got error trying to close management clients from engine: ", errStop)
-		}
-		errStop = peerEngine.Stop()
-		if errStop != nil {
-			log.Infoln("got error trying to close testing peers engine: ", errStop)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
 func Test_ParseNATExternalIPMappings(t *testing.T) {
 	ifaceList, err := net.Interfaces()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -1526,187 +1168,6 @@ func TestCompareNetIPLists(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-func createEngine(ctx context.Context, cancel context.CancelFunc, setupKey string, i int, mgmtAddr string, signalAddr string) (*Engine, error) {
-	key, err := wgtypes.GeneratePrivateKey()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	mgmtClient, err := mgmt.NewClient(ctx, mgmtAddr, key, false)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	signalClient, err := signal.NewClient(ctx, signalAddr, key, false)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	info := system.GetInfo(ctx)
-	resp, err := mgmtClient.Register(setupKey, "", info, nil, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	var ifaceName string
-	if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
-		ifaceName = fmt.Sprintf("utun1%d", i)
-	} else {
-		ifaceName = fmt.Sprintf("wt%d", i)
-	}
-
-	wgPort := 33100 + i
-	conf := &EngineConfig{
-		WgIfaceName:  ifaceName,
-		WgAddr:       wgaddr.MustParseWGAddress(resp.PeerConfig.Address),
-		WgPrivateKey: key,
-		WgPort:       wgPort,
-		MTU:          iface.DefaultMTU,
-	}
-
-	relayMgr := relayClient.NewManager(ctx, nil, key.PublicKey().String(), iface.DefaultMTU)
-	e, err := NewEngine(ctx, cancel, conf, EngineServices{
-		SignalClient:   signalClient,
-		MgmClient:      mgmtClient,
-		RelayManager:   relayMgr,
-		StatusRecorder: peer.NewRecorder("https://mgm"),
-	}, MobileDependency{}), nil
-	e.ctx = ctx
-	return e, err
-}
-
-func startSignal(t *testing.T) (*grpc.Server, string, error) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	s := grpc.NewServer(grpc.KeepaliveEnforcementPolicy(kaep), grpc.KeepaliveParams(kasp))
-
-	lis, err := net.Listen("tcp", "localhost:0")
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("failed to listen: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	srv, err := signalServer.NewServer(context.Background(), otel.Meter(""))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	proto.RegisterSignalExchangeServer(s, srv)
-
-	go func() {
-		if err = s.Serve(lis); err != nil {
-			log.Fatalf("failed to serve: %v", err)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	return s, lis.Addr().String(), nil
-}
-
-func startManagement(t *testing.T, dataDir, testFile string) (*grpc.Server, string, error) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	config := &config.Config{
-		Stuns:      []*config.Host{},
-		TURNConfig: &config.TURNConfig{},
-		Relay: &config.Relay{
-			Addresses:      []string{"127.0.0.1:1234"},
-			CredentialsTTL: util.Duration{Duration: time.Hour},
-			Secret:         "222222222222222222",
-		},
-		Signal: &config.Host{
-			Proto: "http",
-			URI:   "localhost:10000",
-		},
-		Datadir:    dataDir,
-		HttpConfig: nil,
-	}
-
-	lis, err := net.Listen("tcp", "localhost:0")
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-	s := grpc.NewServer(grpc.KeepaliveEnforcementPolicy(kaep), grpc.KeepaliveParams(kasp))
-
-	store, cleanUp, err := store.NewTestStoreFromSQL(context.Background(), testFile, config.Datadir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(cleanUp)
-
-	eventStore := &activity.InMemoryEventStore{}
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-
-	permissionsManager := permissions.NewManager(store)
-	peersManager := peers.NewManager(store, permissionsManager)
-	jobManager := job.NewJobManager(nil, store, peersManager)
-
-	cacheStore, err := nbcache.NewStore(context.Background(), 100*time.Millisecond, 300*time.Millisecond, 100)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-
-	ia, _ := validator.NewIntegratedValidator(context.Background(), peersManager, nil, eventStore, cacheStore)
-
-	metrics, err := telemetry.NewDefaultAppMetrics(context.Background())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
-	t.Cleanup(ctrl.Finish)
-	settingsMockManager := settings.NewMockManager(ctrl)
-	settingsMockManager.EXPECT().
-		GetSettings(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).
-		Return(&types.Settings{}, nil).
-		AnyTimes()
-	settingsMockManager.EXPECT().
-		GetExtraSettings(gomock.Any(), gomock.Any()).
-		Return(&types.ExtraSettings{}, nil).
-		AnyTimes()
-
-	groupsManager := groups.NewManagerMock()
-
-	updateManager := update_channel.NewPeersUpdateManager(metrics)
-	requestBuffer := server.NewAccountRequestBuffer(context.Background(), store)
-	networkMapController := controller.NewController(context.Background(), store, metrics, updateManager, requestBuffer, server.MockIntegratedValidator{}, settingsMockManager, "netbird.selfhosted", port_forwarding.NewControllerMock(), manager.NewEphemeralManager(store, peersManager), config)
-	accountManager, err := server.BuildManager(context.Background(), config, store, networkMapController, jobManager, nil, "", eventStore, nil, false, ia, metrics, port_forwarding.NewControllerMock(), settingsMockManager, permissionsManager, false, cacheStore)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-
-	secretsManager, err := nbgrpc.NewTimeBasedAuthSecretsManager(updateManager, config.TURNConfig, config.Relay, settingsMockManager, groupsManager)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-	mgmtServer, err := nbgrpc.NewServer(config, accountManager, settingsMockManager, jobManager, secretsManager, nil, nil, &server.MockIntegratedValidator{}, networkMapController, nil, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-	mgmtProto.RegisterManagementServiceServer(s, mgmtServer)
-	go func() {
-		if err = s.Serve(lis); err != nil {
-			log.Fatalf("failed to serve: %v", err)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	return s, lis.Addr().String(), nil
-}
-
-// getConnectedPeers returns a connection Status or nil if peer connection wasn't found
-func getConnectedPeers(e *Engine) int {
-	e.syncMsgMux.Lock()
-	defer e.syncMsgMux.Unlock()
-	i := 0
-	for _, id := range e.peerStore.PeersPubKey() {
-		conn, _ := e.peerStore.PeerConn(id)
-		if conn.IsConnected() {
-			i++
-		}
-	}
-	return i
-}
-
-func getPeers(e *Engine) int {
-	e.syncMsgMux.Lock()
-	defer e.syncMsgMux.Unlock()
-
-	return len(e.peerStore.PeersPubKey())
-}
-
 func mustEncodePrefix(t *testing.T, p netip.Prefix) []byte {
 	t.Helper()
 	b, err := netiputil.EncodePrefix(p)
--- a/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/listener_bind.go
+++ b/client/internal/lazyconn/activity/listener_bind.go
@@ -119,10 +119,6 @@ func (d *BindListener) ReadPackets() {
 	}

 	d.peerCfg.Log.Debugf("removing lazy endpoint for peer %s", d.peerCfg.PublicKey)
-	if err := d.wgIface.RemovePeer(d.peerCfg.PublicKey); err != nil {
-		d.peerCfg.Log.Errorf("failed to remove endpoint: %s", err)
-	}
-
 	_ = d.lazyConn.Close()
 	d.bind.RemoveEndpoint(d.fakeIP)
 	d.done.Done()
--- a/client/internal/peer/handshaker.go
+++ b/client/internal/peer/handshaker.go
@@ -195,14 +195,14 @@ func (h *Handshaker) sendOffer() error {
 	}

 	offer := h.buildOfferAnswer()
-	h.log.Infof("sending offer with serial: %s", offer.SessionIDString())
+	h.log.Debugf("sending offer with serial: %s", offer.SessionIDString())

 	return h.signaler.SignalOffer(offer, h.config.Key)
 }

 func (h *Handshaker) sendAnswer() error {
 	answer := h.buildOfferAnswer()
-	h.log.Infof("sending answer with serial: %s", answer.SessionIDString())
+	h.log.Debugf("sending answer with serial: %s", answer.SessionIDString())

 	return h.signaler.SignalAnswer(answer, h.config.Key)
 }
--- a/client/internal/peer/status.go
+++ b/client/internal/peer/status.go
@@ -192,6 +192,7 @@ func (s *StatusChangeSubscription) Events() chan map[string]RouterState {
 // Pure read methods take RLock; anything that mutates state takes Lock.
 type Status struct {
 	mux                   sync.RWMutex
+	muxRelays             sync.RWMutex
 	peers                 map[string]State
 	ipToKey               map[string]string
 	changeNotify          map[string]map[string]*StatusChangeSubscription // map[peerID]map[subscriptionID]*StatusChangeSubscription
@@ -244,8 +245,8 @@ func NewRecorder(mgmAddress string) *Status {
 }

 func (d *Status) SetRelayMgr(manager *relayClient.Manager) {
-	d.mux.Lock()
-	defer d.mux.Unlock()
+	d.muxRelays.Lock()
+	defer d.muxRelays.Unlock()
 	d.relayMgr = manager
 }

@@ -906,8 +907,8 @@ func (d *Status) MarkSignalConnected() {
 }

 func (d *Status) UpdateRelayStates(relayResults []relay.ProbeResult) {
-	d.mux.Lock()
-	defer d.mux.Unlock()
+	d.muxRelays.Lock()
+	defer d.muxRelays.Unlock()
 	d.relayStates = relayResults
 }

@@ -1018,24 +1019,26 @@ func (d *Status) GetSignalState() SignalState {

 // GetRelayStates returns the stun/turn/permanent relay states
 func (d *Status) GetRelayStates() []relay.ProbeResult {
-	d.mux.RLock()
-	defer d.mux.RUnlock()
+	d.muxRelays.RLock()
 	if d.relayMgr == nil {
-		return d.relayStates
+		defer d.muxRelays.RUnlock()
+		return slices.Clone(d.relayStates)
 	}

+	relayMgr := d.relayMgr
 	// extend the list of stun, turn servers with the relay server connections
 	relayStates := slices.Clone(d.relayStates)
+	d.muxRelays.RUnlock()

-	states := d.relayMgr.RelayStates()
+	states := relayMgr.RelayStates()
 	if len(states) == 0 {
 		// no relay connection tracked yet; surface configured servers as
 		// unavailable with the real reconnect error when known
 		err := relayClient.ErrRelayClientNotConnected
-		if connErr := d.relayMgr.RelayConnectError(); connErr != nil {
+		if connErr := relayMgr.RelayConnectError(); connErr != nil {
 			err = connErr
 		}
-		for _, r := range d.relayMgr.ServerURLs() {
+		for _, r := range relayMgr.ServerURLs() {
 			relayStates = append(relayStates, relay.ProbeResult{
 				URI: r,
 				Err: err,
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/config.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/config.go
@@ -108,6 +108,10 @@ type ConfigInput struct {

 // Config Configuration type
 type Config struct {
+	// Name is the human-readable profile name shown in CLI/UI listings.
+	// It is independent of the profile's on-disk filename (which is the ID).
+	Name string
+
 	// Wireguard private key of local peer
 	PrivateKey                    string
 	PreSharedKey                  string
@@ -270,6 +274,16 @@ func createNewConfig(input ConfigInput) (*Config, error) {
 }

 func (config *Config) apply(input ConfigInput) (updated bool, err error) {
+	if config.Name != "" {
+		sanitized, err := sanitizeDisplayName(config.Name)
+		if err != nil {
+			return false, fmt.Errorf("invalid profile name: %w", err)
+		}
+		if sanitized != config.Name {
+			config.Name = sanitized
+			updated = true
+		}
+	}
 	if config.ManagementURL == nil {
 		log.Infof("using default Management URL %s", DefaultManagementURL)
 		config.ManagementURL, err = parseURL("Management URL", DefaultManagementURL)
@@ -419,7 +433,7 @@ func (config *Config) apply(input ConfigInput) (updated bool, err error) {
 		updated = true
 	}

-	if input.ServerSSHAllowed != nil && *input.ServerSSHAllowed != *config.ServerSSHAllowed {
+	if input.ServerSSHAllowed != nil && (config.ServerSSHAllowed == nil || *input.ServerSSHAllowed != *config.ServerSSHAllowed) {
 		if *input.ServerSSHAllowed {
 			log.Infof("enabling SSH server")
 		} else {
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/config_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/config_test.go
@@ -242,6 +242,35 @@ func TestWireguardPortDefaultVsExplicit(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

+func TestUpdateConfigServerSSHAllowedNotSet(t *testing.T) {
+	// Configs written before ServerSSHAllowed was introduced lack the field and
+	// unmarshal to nil. Supplying the SSH server flag on top of such a config must
+	// apply the value instead of panicking on a nil pointer dereference.
+	tests := []struct {
+		name  string
+		input *bool
+		want  bool
+	}{
+		{"enable", util.True(), true},
+		{"disable", util.False(), false},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			configPath := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "config.json")
+			require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(configPath, []byte("{}"), 0600))
+
+			config, err := UpdateConfig(ConfigInput{
+				ConfigPath:       configPath,
+				ServerSSHAllowed: tt.input,
+			})
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.NotNil(t, config.ServerSSHAllowed, "ServerSSHAllowed should be set from input")
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.want, *config.ServerSSHAllowed)
+		})
+	}
+}
+
 func TestUpdateOldManagementURL(t *testing.T) {
 	origProber := newMgmProber
 	newMgmProber = func(_ context.Context, _ string, _ wgtypes.Key, _ bool) (mgmProber, error) {
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/id.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/id.go
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+package profilemanager
+
+import (
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"encoding/hex"
+	"fmt"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"unicode"
+	"unicode/utf8"
+)
+
+const (
+	// profileIDByteLen is the number of random bytes generated for a new
+	// profile ID. The resulting hex string is twice this length.
+	profileIDByteLen = 16
+
+	// shortIDLen is the number of leading characters of an ID we render in
+	// list output. Profiles per device are few, so 8 chars is collision-safe
+	// in practice and easy to type as a prefix.
+	shortIDLen = 8
+
+	// maxProfileNameLen caps the human-readable profile name to keep table
+	// output legible and prevent denial-of-service via huge JSON fields.
+	maxProfileNameLen = 128
+
+	// maxProfileIDLen bounds the on-disk filename we'll accept. New
+	// IDs are 32 hex chars, legacy stems are sanitized profile names. The
+	// cap is generous enough to cover both without permitting absurdly
+	// long filenames.
+	maxProfileIDLen = 64
+)
+
+type ID string
+
+// generateProfileID returns a new random hex ID for a profile file.
+func generateProfileID() (ID, error) {
+	buf := make([]byte, profileIDByteLen)
+	if _, err := rand.Read(buf); err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("read random bytes: %w", err)
+	}
+	return ID(hex.EncodeToString(buf)), nil
+}
+
+// IsValidProfileFilenameStem reports whether id is safe to use as the stem
+// of a profile JSON filename.
+func IsValidProfileFilenameStem(id ID) bool {
+	s := id.String()
+	if s == "" || len(s) > maxProfileIDLen {
+		return false
+	}
+	if s == defaultProfileName {
+		return true
+	}
+	if strings.ContainsAny(s, `/\`) || strings.Contains(s, "..") {
+		return false
+	}
+	// filepath.Base catches any leftover separators on platforms with
+	// exotic path conventions.
+	if filepath.Base(s) != s {
+		return false
+	}
+	for _, r := range s {
+		if !(unicode.IsLetter(r) || unicode.IsDigit(r) || r == '_' || r == '-') {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+}
+
+// sanitizeDisplayName normalizes a user-supplied profile display name for
+// storage. It strips ASCII control characters, rejects invalid UTF-8, and
+// caps the length. Emojis, spaces, punctuation, and non-ASCII letters are
+// preserved. Returns an error if nothing usable remains.
+func sanitizeDisplayName(name string) (string, error) {
+	if !utf8.ValidString(name) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("name is not valid UTF-8")
+	}
+	name = StripCtrlChars(name)
+	name = strings.TrimSpace(name)
+	if name == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("name is empty after sanitization")
+	}
+	if utf8.RuneCountInString(name) > maxProfileNameLen {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("name exceeds %d characters", maxProfileNameLen)
+	}
+	return name, nil
+}
+
+// StripCtrlChars control characters from a name before printing it.
+func StripCtrlChars(name string) string {
+	var b strings.Builder
+	b.Grow(len(name))
+	for _, r := range name {
+		// Skip C0 controls and DEL, plus C1 controls (0x80–0x9F).
+		if r < 0x20 || r == 0x7F || (r >= 0x80 && r <= 0x9F) {
+			continue
+		}
+		b.WriteRune(r)
+	}
+	return b.String()
+}
+
+// ShortID truncates an ID for display.
+func (id ID) ShortID() string {
+	if id == DefaultProfileName {
+		return DefaultProfileName
+	}
+	runes := []rune(id)
+	if len(runes) <= shortIDLen {
+		return id.String()
+	}
+	return string(runes[:shortIDLen])
+}
+
+func (id ID) String() string {
+	return string(id)
+}
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager.go
@@ -19,19 +19,41 @@ const (
 )

 type Profile struct {
-	Name     string
+	// ID is the on-disk filename stem (without .json). For new profiles
+	// it is a 32-char hex string; legacy profiles created before the
+	// ID-keyed layout keep their original name as their ID. The reserved
+	// value "default" identifies the special default profile.
+	ID ID
+	// Name is the human-readable display name. Falls back to ID when the
+	// underlying JSON has no "name" field set.
+	Name string
+	// Path is the absolute path to the profile JSON. Populated by the
+	// loader so callers do not have to reconstruct it from ID + dir.
+	Path     string
 	IsActive bool
 }

 func (p *Profile) FilePath() (string, error) {
-	if p.Name == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("active profile name is empty")
+	if p.Path != "" {
+		return p.Path, nil
 	}

-	if p.Name == defaultProfileName {
+	id := p.ID
+	if id == "" {
+		id = ID(p.Name)
+	}
+	if id == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("profile ID is empty")
+	}
+
+	if id == defaultProfileName {
 		return DefaultConfigPath, nil
 	}

+	if !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(id) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", id)
+	}
+
 	username, err := user.Current()
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get current user: %w", err)
@@ -42,10 +64,13 @@ func (p *Profile) FilePath() (string, error) {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get config directory for user %s: %w", username.Username, err)
 	}

-	return filepath.Join(configDir, p.Name+".json"), nil
+	return filepath.Join(configDir, id.String()+".json"), nil
 }

 func (p *Profile) IsDefault() bool {
+	if p.ID != "" {
+		return p.ID == defaultProfileName
+	}
 	return p.Name == defaultProfileName
 }

@@ -57,18 +82,24 @@ func NewProfileManager() *ProfileManager {
 	return &ProfileManager{}
 }

+// GetActiveProfile returns the active profile as recorded in the local
+// user state file. Only ID is populated.
 func (pm *ProfileManager) GetActiveProfile() (*Profile, error) {
 	pm.mu.Lock()
 	defer pm.mu.Unlock()

-	prof := pm.getActiveProfileState()
-	return &Profile{Name: prof}, nil
+	id := pm.getActiveProfileState()
+	return &Profile{ID: id}, nil
 }

-func (pm *ProfileManager) SwitchProfile(profileName string) error {
-	profileName = sanitizeProfileName(profileName)
+// SwitchProfile records the given profile ID as active in the local user
+// state file.
+func (pm *ProfileManager) SwitchProfile(id ID) error {
+	if id != defaultProfileName && !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(id) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", id)
+	}

-	if err := pm.setActiveProfileState(profileName); err != nil {
+	if err := pm.setActiveProfileState(id); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %w", err)
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -85,7 +116,7 @@ func sanitizeProfileName(name string) string {
 	}, name)
 }

-func (pm *ProfileManager) getActiveProfileState() string {
+func (pm *ProfileManager) getActiveProfileState() ID {

 	configDir, err := getConfigDir()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -113,10 +144,10 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) getActiveProfileState() string {
 		return defaultProfileName
 	}

-	return profileName
+	return ID(profileName)
 }

-func (pm *ProfileManager) setActiveProfileState(profileName string) error {
+func (pm *ProfileManager) setActiveProfileState(id ID) error {

 	configDir, err := getConfigDir()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -125,7 +156,7 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) setActiveProfileState(profileName string) error {

 	statePath := filepath.Join(configDir, activeProfileStateFilename)

-	err = os.WriteFile(statePath, []byte(profileName), 0600)
+	err = os.WriteFile(statePath, []byte(id), 0600)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write active profile state: %w", err)
 	}
@@ -142,7 +173,7 @@ func GetLoginHint() string {
 		return ""
 	}

-	profileState, err := pm.GetProfileState(activeProf.Name)
+	profileState, err := pm.GetProfileState(activeProf.ID)
 	if err != nil {
 		log.Debugf("failed to get profile state for login hint: %v", err)
 		return ""
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/profilemanager_test.go
@@ -50,14 +50,14 @@ func TestServiceManager_CreateAndGetDefaultProfile(t *testing.T) {

 			state, err := sm.GetActiveProfileState()
 			assert.NoError(t, err)
-			assert.Equal(t, state.Name, defaultProfileName) // No active profile state yet
+			assert.Equal(t, defaultProfileName, state.ID.String()) // No active profile state yet

 			err = sm.SetActiveProfileStateToDefault()
 			assert.NoError(t, err)

 			active, err := sm.GetActiveProfileState()
 			assert.NoError(t, err)
-			assert.Equal(t, "default", active.Name)
+			assert.Equal(t, "default", active.ID.String())
 		})
 	})
 }
@@ -92,14 +92,14 @@ func TestServiceManager_SetActiveProfileState(t *testing.T) {
 			currUser, err := user.Current()
 			assert.NoError(t, err)
 			sm := &ServiceManager{}
-			state := &ActiveProfileState{Name: "foo", Username: currUser.Username}
+			state := &ActiveProfileState{ID: "foo", Username: currUser.Username}
 			err = sm.SetActiveProfileState(state)
 			assert.NoError(t, err)

 			// Should error on nil or incomplete state
 			err = sm.SetActiveProfileState(nil)
 			assert.Error(t, err)
-			err = sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{Name: "", Username: ""})
+			err = sm.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{ID: "", Username: ""})
 			assert.Error(t, err)
 		})
 	})
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/service.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/service.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package profilemanager

 import (
 	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
@@ -23,12 +24,43 @@ var (
 	DefaultConfigPathDir   = ""
 	DefaultConfigPath      = ""
 	ActiveProfileStatePath = ""
-)

-var (
 	ErrorOldDefaultConfigNotFound = errors.New("old default config not found")
 )

+// ErrAmbiguousHandle is returned when a profile handle (ID prefix or name)
+// matches more than one profile. Callers can render Candidates to help the
+// user disambiguate.
+type ErrAmbiguousHandle struct {
+	Handle     string
+	Candidates []Profile
+	Kind       AmbiguityKind
+}
+
+// AmbiguityKind describes which matcher produced the ambiguity, so callers
+// can tailor the error message.
+type AmbiguityKind int
+
+const (
+	AmbiguityKindIDPrefix AmbiguityKind = iota
+	AmbiguityKindName
+)
+
+// profileMeta is the minimal slice of a profile JSON we need, so we avoid
+// reading all fields
+type profileMeta struct {
+	Name string
+}
+
+func (e *ErrAmbiguousHandle) Error() string {
+	switch e.Kind {
+	case AmbiguityKindIDPrefix:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("ID prefix %q is ambiguous (matches %d profiles)", e.Handle, len(e.Candidates))
+	default:
+		return fmt.Sprintf("name %q is ambiguous (%d profiles share this name)", e.Handle, len(e.Candidates))
+	}
+}
+
 func init() {

 	DefaultConfigPathDir = "/var/lib/netbird/"
@@ -54,25 +86,34 @@ func init() {
 }

 type ActiveProfileState struct {
-	Name     string `json:"name"`
+	// ID is the on-disk filename stem of the active profile. The JSON tag stays
+	// as "name" for backwards compatibility with active state files written
+	// before the ID-based config files. Legacy values were profile names, which
+	// were also the legacy filename stems, so they still resolve to the correct
+	// file on disk.
+	ID       ID     `json:"name"`
 	Username string `json:"username"`
 }

 func (a *ActiveProfileState) FilePath() (string, error) {
-	if a.Name == "" {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("active profile name is empty")
+	if a.ID == "" {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("active profile ID is empty")
 	}

-	if a.Name == defaultProfileName {
+	if a.ID == defaultProfileName {
 		return DefaultConfigPath, nil
 	}

+	if !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(a.ID) {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", a.ID)
+	}
+
 	configDir, err := getConfigDirForUser(a.Username)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("failed to get config directory for user %s: %w", a.Username, err)
 	}

-	return filepath.Join(configDir, a.Name+".json"), nil
+	return filepath.Join(configDir, a.ID.String()+".json"), nil
 }

 type ServiceManager struct {
@@ -178,7 +219,7 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) GetActiveProfileState() (*ActiveProfileState, error) {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set active profile to default: %w", err)
 			}
 			return &ActiveProfileState{
-				Name:     "default",
+				ID:       defaultProfileName,
 				Username: "",
 			}, nil
 		} else {
@@ -186,12 +227,12 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) GetActiveProfileState() (*ActiveProfileState, error) {
 		}
 	}

-	if activeProfile.Name == "" {
+	if activeProfile.ID == "" {
 		if err := s.SetActiveProfileStateToDefault(); err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set active profile to default: %w", err)
 		}
 		return &ActiveProfileState{
-			Name:     "default",
+			ID:       defaultProfileName,
 			Username: "",
 		}, nil
 	}
@@ -216,25 +257,29 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) setDefaultActiveState() error {
 }

 func (s *ServiceManager) SetActiveProfileState(a *ActiveProfileState) error {
-	if a == nil || a.Name == "" {
+	if a == nil || a.ID == "" {
 		return errors.New("invalid active profile state")
 	}

-	if a.Name != defaultProfileName && a.Username == "" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("username must be set for non-default profiles, got: %s", a.Name)
+	if a.ID != defaultProfileName && a.Username == "" {
+		return fmt.Errorf("username must be set for non-default profiles, got: %s", a.ID)
+	}
+
+	if a.ID != defaultProfileName && !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(a.ID) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", a.ID)
 	}

 	if err := util.WriteJsonWithRestrictedPermission(context.Background(), ActiveProfileStatePath, a); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write active profile state: %w", err)
 	}

-	log.Infof("active profile set to %s for %s", a.Name, a.Username)
+	log.Infof("active profile set to %s for %s", a.ID, a.Username)
 	return nil
 }

 func (s *ServiceManager) SetActiveProfileStateToDefault() error {
 	return s.SetActiveProfileState(&ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     "default",
+		ID:       defaultProfileName,
 		Username: "",
 	})
 }
@@ -243,57 +288,117 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) DefaultProfilePath() string {
 	return DefaultConfigPath
 }

-func (s *ServiceManager) AddProfile(profileName, username string) error {
+// AddProfile creates a new profile with a generated ID. The user-supplied
+// displayName is stored inside the JSON's name field, the on-disk filename
+// uses the generated ID.
+//
+// The returned Profile carries the freshly-generated ID so callers can
+// show it to the user (and so the gRPC AddProfileResponse can include
+// it).
+func (s *ServiceManager) AddProfile(displayName, username string) (*Profile, error) {
 	configDir, err := s.getConfigDir(username)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get config directory: %w", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get config directory: %w", err)
 	}

-	profileName = sanitizeProfileName(profileName)
-
-	if profileName == defaultProfileName {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot create profile with reserved name: %s", defaultProfileName)
-	}
-
-	profPath := filepath.Join(configDir, profileName+".json")
-	profileExists, err := fileExists(profPath)
+	displayName, err = sanitizeDisplayName(displayName)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to check if profile exists: %w", err)
-	}
-	if profileExists {
-		return ErrProfileAlreadyExists
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid profile name: %w", err)
 	}

+	id, err := generateProfileID()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("generate profile id: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	profPath := filepath.Join(configDir, id.String()+".json")
 	cfg, err := createNewConfig(ConfigInput{ConfigPath: profPath})
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to create new config: %w", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create new config: %w", err)
+	}
+	cfg.Name = displayName
+
+	if err := util.WriteJson(context.Background(), profPath, cfg); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to write profile config: %w", err)
 	}

-	err = util.WriteJson(context.Background(), profPath, cfg)
+	return &Profile{
+		ID:   id,
+		Name: displayName,
+		Path: profPath,
+	}, nil
+}
+
+func (s *ServiceManager) RenameProfile(id ID, username string, newName string) error {
+	displayName, err := sanitizeDisplayName(newName)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write profile config: %w", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid profile name: %w", err)
 	}

+	if !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(id) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", id)
+	}
+
+	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfiles(username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("load profiles: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var target *Profile
+	for i := range profiles {
+		if profiles[i].ID == id {
+			target = &profiles[i]
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if target == nil {
+		return ErrProfileNotFound
+	}
+
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(target.Path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var cfg Config
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &cfg); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	cfg.Name = displayName
+
+	if err := util.WriteJson(context.Background(), target.Path, cfg); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to write profile name: %w", err)
+	}
 	return nil
 }

-func (s *ServiceManager) RemoveProfile(profileName, username string) error {
-	configDir, err := s.getConfigDir(username)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get config directory: %w", err)
+// RemoveProfile deletes the profile identified by id. Callers must have
+// already resolved any user-supplied handle to a concrete ID via
+// ResolveProfile.
+func (s *ServiceManager) RemoveProfile(id ID, username string) error {
+	if id == defaultProfileName {
+		defaultName := readProfileName(DefaultConfigPath)
+		if defaultName == "" {
+			defaultName = defaultProfileName
+		}
+		return fmt.Errorf("cannot remove default profile with name: %s", defaultName)
+	}
+	if !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(id) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", id)
 	}

-	profileName = sanitizeProfileName(profileName)
-
-	if profileName == defaultProfileName {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot remove profile with reserved name: %s", defaultProfileName)
-	}
-	profPath := filepath.Join(configDir, profileName+".json")
-	profileExists, err := fileExists(profPath)
+	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfiles(username)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("failed to check if profile exists: %w", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("load profiles: %w", err)
 	}
-	if !profileExists {
+
+	var target *Profile
+	for i := range profiles {
+		if profiles[i].ID == id {
+			target = &profiles[i]
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	if target == nil {
 		return ErrProfileNotFound
 	}

@@ -301,57 +406,26 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) RemoveProfile(profileName, username string) error {
 	if err != nil && !errors.Is(err, ErrNoActiveProfile) {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile: %w", err)
 	}
-
-	if activeProf != nil && activeProf.Name == profileName {
-		return fmt.Errorf("cannot remove active profile: %s", profileName)
+	if activeProf != nil && activeProf.ID == id {
+		return fmt.Errorf("cannot remove active profile: %s", id)
 	}

-	err = util.RemoveJson(profPath)
-	if err != nil {
+	if err := util.RemoveJson(target.Path); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("failed to remove profile config: %w", err)
 	}
+
+	stateFile := filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(target.Path), id.String()+".state.json")
+	if err := os.Remove(stateFile); err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		log.Warnf("failed to remove profile state file %s: %v", stateFile, err)
+	}
+
 	return nil
 }

+// ListProfiles returns every profile for the given user, including the
+// default profile, with IsActive flags set.
 func (s *ServiceManager) ListProfiles(username string) ([]Profile, error) {
-	configDir, err := s.getConfigDir(username)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get config directory: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	files, err := util.ListFiles(configDir, "*.json")
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to list profile files: %w", err)
-	}
-
-	var filtered []string
-	for _, file := range files {
-		if strings.HasSuffix(file, "state.json") {
-			continue // skip state files
-		}
-		filtered = append(filtered, file)
-	}
-	sort.Strings(filtered)
-
-	var activeProfName string
-	activeProf, err := s.GetActiveProfileState()
-	if err == nil {
-		activeProfName = activeProf.Name
-	}
-
-	var profiles []Profile
-	// add default profile always
-	profiles = append(profiles, Profile{Name: defaultProfileName, IsActive: activeProfName == "" || activeProfName == defaultProfileName})
-	for _, file := range filtered {
-		profileName := strings.TrimSuffix(filepath.Base(file), ".json")
-		var isActive bool
-		if activeProfName != "" && activeProfName == profileName {
-			isActive = true
-		}
-		profiles = append(profiles, Profile{Name: profileName, IsActive: isActive})
-	}
-
-	return profiles, nil
+	return s.loadAllProfiles(username)
 }

 // GetStatePath returns the path to the state file based on the operating system
@@ -369,7 +443,12 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) GetStatePath() string {
 		return defaultStatePath
 	}

-	if activeProf.Name == defaultProfileName {
+	if activeProf.ID == defaultProfileName {
+		return defaultStatePath
+	}
+
+	if !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(activeProf.ID) {
+		log.Warnf("invalid active profile ID %q, using default state path", activeProf.ID)
 		return defaultStatePath
 	}

@@ -379,7 +458,7 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) GetStatePath() string {
 		return defaultStatePath
 	}

-	return filepath.Join(configDir, activeProf.Name+".state.json")
+	return filepath.Join(configDir, activeProf.ID.String()+".state.json")
 }

 // getConfigDir returns the profiles directory, using profilesDir if set, otherwise getConfigDirForUser
@@ -390,3 +469,169 @@ func (s *ServiceManager) getConfigDir(username string) (string, error) {

 	return getConfigDirForUser(username)
 }
+
+// loadAllProfiles returns every profile visible to the daemon for the
+// given user, including the default profile. The returned slice is sorted
+// by ID for a stable display order.
+//
+// Each Profile is fully populated: ID is the filename stem, Name comes
+// from the JSON's "name" field (falling back to the filename stem when absent)
+// and Path is built from a basename read off disk.
+func (s *ServiceManager) loadAllProfiles(username string) ([]Profile, error) {
+	activeID, activeIsDefault := s.activeProfileID()
+	defaultName := readProfileName(DefaultConfigPath)
+	if defaultName == "" {
+		defaultName = defaultProfileName
+	}
+
+	profiles := []Profile{{
+		ID:       defaultProfileName,
+		Name:     defaultName,
+		Path:     DefaultConfigPath,
+		IsActive: activeIsDefault,
+	}}
+
+	configDir, err := s.getConfigDir(username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get config directory: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	entries, err := os.ReadDir(configDir)
+	if err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist) {
+			return profiles, nil
+		}
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("read profile directory: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	var fileProfiles []Profile
+	for _, entry := range entries {
+		if entry.IsDir() {
+			continue
+		}
+		base := entry.Name()
+		if !strings.HasSuffix(base, ".json") {
+			continue
+		}
+		if strings.HasSuffix(base, ".state.json") {
+			continue
+		}
+		stem := ID(strings.TrimSuffix(base, ".json"))
+		if stem == defaultProfileName {
+			// default lives at the top-level config dir, not under /<user>
+			continue
+		}
+		if !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(ID(stem)) {
+			continue
+		}
+		path := filepath.Join(configDir, base)
+		name := readProfileName(path)
+		if name == "" {
+			name = stem.String()
+		}
+		fileProfiles = append(fileProfiles, Profile{
+			ID:       stem,
+			Name:     name,
+			Path:     path,
+			IsActive: stem == ID(activeID),
+		})
+	}
+
+	sort.Slice(fileProfiles, func(i, j int) bool {
+		if fileProfiles[i].Name != fileProfiles[j].Name {
+			return fileProfiles[i].Name < fileProfiles[j].Name
+		}
+		// Sort tie-break on ID so duplicate names always render in the same order.
+		return fileProfiles[i].ID < fileProfiles[j].ID
+	})
+	profiles = append(profiles, fileProfiles...)
+	return profiles, nil
+}
+
+// readProfileName parses just the "name" field from the profile Json.
+func readProfileName(path string) string {
+	data, err := os.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	var meta profileMeta
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, &meta); err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return meta.Name
+}
+
+// activeProfileID returns the currently-active profile's ID. The second
+// return value is true when the active profile is the default one.
+func (s *ServiceManager) activeProfileID() (ID, bool) {
+	state, err := s.GetActiveProfileState()
+	if err != nil || state == nil {
+		return defaultProfileName, true
+	}
+	if state.ID == "" || state.ID == defaultProfileName {
+		return defaultProfileName, true
+	}
+	return state.ID, false
+}
+
+// ResolveProfile turns a user-supplied handle into a Profile. Resolution
+// precedence is: exact ID match, then unique exact name, then unique ID
+// prefix. Ambiguous matches return *ErrAmbiguousHandle so callers can
+// surface the candidates.
+func (s *ServiceManager) ResolveProfile(handle, username string) (*Profile, error) {
+	if handle == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("profile handle is empty")
+	}
+
+	profiles, err := s.loadAllProfiles(username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	for i := range profiles {
+		if profiles[i].ID == ID(handle) {
+			return &profiles[i], nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	var nameMatches []Profile
+	for i := range profiles {
+		if profiles[i].Name == handle {
+			nameMatches = append(nameMatches, profiles[i])
+		}
+	}
+	if len(nameMatches) == 1 {
+		return &nameMatches[0], nil
+	}
+	if len(nameMatches) > 1 {
+		return nil, &ErrAmbiguousHandle{
+			Handle:     handle,
+			Candidates: nameMatches,
+			Kind:       AmbiguityKindName,
+		}
+	}
+
+	// ID prefix match. Skip the default profile so `select d` does not
+	// accidentally pick it via prefix.
+	var prefixMatches []Profile
+	for i := range profiles {
+		if profiles[i].ID == defaultProfileName {
+			continue
+		}
+		if strings.HasPrefix(profiles[i].ID.String(), handle) {
+			prefixMatches = append(prefixMatches, profiles[i])
+		}
+	}
+	if len(prefixMatches) == 1 {
+		return &prefixMatches[0], nil
+	}
+	if len(prefixMatches) > 1 {
+		return nil, &ErrAmbiguousHandle{
+			Handle:     handle,
+			Candidates: prefixMatches,
+			Kind:       AmbiguityKindIDPrefix,
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil, ErrProfileNotFound
+}
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/service_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/service_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,230 @@
+package profilemanager
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"os"
+	"os/user"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/util"
+)
+
+// withTestSM wires up patched globals + a clean config dir and returns a
+// fully initialized ServiceManager plus the username we are scoped to.
+func withTestSM(t *testing.T, fn func(sm *ServiceManager, username string)) {
+	t.Helper()
+	withTempConfigDir(t, func(configDir string) {
+		withPatchedGlobals(t, configDir, func() {
+			u, err := user.Current()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			sm := &ServiceManager{}
+			require.NoError(t, sm.CreateDefaultProfile())
+			fn(sm, u.Username)
+		})
+	})
+}
+
+func TestServiceProfile_ExactID(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(created.ID.String(), username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, created.ID, got.ID)
+		assert.Equal(t, "work", got.Name)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestServiceProfile_IDPrefix(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		prefix := created.ID[:4]
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(prefix.String(), username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, created.ID, got.ID)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestServiceProfile_AmbiguousPrefix(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		// Plant two profiles whose IDs share a known prefix by writing
+		// the files directly, since generated IDs are random.
+		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDir(username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		for _, id := range []string{"abcd1111aaaa", "abcd2222bbbb"} {
+			path := filepath.Join(configDir, id+".json")
+			require.NoError(t, util.WriteJson(context.Background(), path, &Config{Name: id}))
+		}
+
+		_, err = sm.ResolveProfile("abcd", username)
+		var amb *ErrAmbiguousHandle
+		require.ErrorAs(t, err, &amb)
+		assert.Equal(t, AmbiguityKindIDPrefix, amb.Kind)
+		assert.Len(t, amb.Candidates, 2)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestServiceProfile_ExactNameUnique(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		_, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile("work", username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "work", got.Name)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestServiceProfile_AmbiguousName(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		_, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		_, err = sm.AddProfile("work", username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		_, err = sm.ResolveProfile("work", username)
+		var amb *ErrAmbiguousHandle
+		require.ErrorAs(t, err, &amb)
+		assert.Equal(t, AmbiguityKindName, amb.Kind)
+		assert.Len(t, amb.Candidates, 2)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestServiceProfile_NotFound(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		_, err := sm.ResolveProfile("nope", username)
+		assert.ErrorIs(t, err, ErrProfileNotFound)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestServiceProfile_DefaultByExactID(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile(defaultProfileName, username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, defaultProfileName, got.ID.String())
+	})
+}
+
+func TestServiceProfile_LegacyFilenameCoexists(t *testing.T) {
+	// Legacy profiles stored as <name>.json with no "name" JSON field
+	// should still be discoverable by name and removable by name.
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDir(username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		path := filepath.Join(configDir, "legacy.json")
+		require.NoError(t, util.WriteJson(context.Background(), path, &Config{}))
+
+		got, err := sm.ResolveProfile("legacy", username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "legacy", got.ID.String())
+		// Name falls back to the filename stem when JSON omits it.
+		assert.Equal(t, "legacy", got.Name)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestAddProfile_AllowsDuplicateWithFlag(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		first, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		second, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.NotEqual(t, first.ID, second.ID)
+		assert.Equal(t, "work", second.Name)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestAddProfile_RejectsInvalidNames(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		cases := []string{
+			"",                                       // empty
+			"\x00\x01",                               // only control chars (becomes empty)
+			strings.Repeat("a", maxProfileNameLen+1), // too long
+		}
+		for _, name := range cases {
+			_, err := sm.AddProfile(name, username)
+			assert.Error(t, err, "expected error for %q", name)
+		}
+	})
+}
+
+func TestRemoveProfile_RejectsInvalidID(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		err := sm.RemoveProfile("../escape", username)
+		assert.Error(t, err)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSanitizeDisplayName(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		in      string
+		want    string
+		wantErr bool
+	}{
+		{"work", "work", false},
+		{"My Work Account", "My Work Account", false},
+		{"emoji 🚀 ok", "emoji 🚀 ok", false},
+		{"漢字テスト", "漢字テスト", false},
+		{"with\x00null", "withnull", false},
+		{"\x01\x02\x03", "", true},
+		{"", "", true},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		got, err := sanitizeDisplayName(tc.in)
+		if tc.wantErr {
+			assert.Error(t, err, "case %q", tc.in)
+			continue
+		}
+		assert.NoError(t, err, "case %q", tc.in)
+		assert.Equal(t, tc.want, got, "case %q", tc.in)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestIsValidProfileFilenameStem(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		in   string
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{"default", true},
+		{"abc123def456", true},
+		{"legacy-name", true},
+		{"legacy_name", true},
+		{"", false},
+		{"..", false},
+		{"../etc", false},
+		{"foo/bar", false},
+		{`foo\bar`, false},
+		{"with space", false},
+		{"with.dot", false},
+		{strings.Repeat("a", maxProfileIDLen+1), false},
+	}
+	for _, tc := range cases {
+		got := IsValidProfileFilenameStem(ID(tc.in))
+		assert.Equal(t, tc.want, got, "case %q", tc.in)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRemoveProfile_DeletesStateFile(t *testing.T) {
+	withTestSM(t, func(sm *ServiceManager, username string) {
+		created, err := sm.AddProfile("work", username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+
+		configDir, err := sm.getConfigDir(username)
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		statePath := filepath.Join(configDir, created.ID.String()+".state.json")
+		require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(statePath, []byte(`{"email":"a@b"}`), 0600))
+
+		require.NoError(t, sm.RemoveProfile(created.ID, username))
+		_, err = os.Stat(statePath)
+		assert.True(t, errors.Is(err, os.ErrNotExist), "state file should be removed")
+	})
+}
--- a/client/internal/profilemanager/state.go
+++ b/client/internal/profilemanager/state.go
@@ -13,13 +13,20 @@ type ProfileState struct {
 	Email string `json:"email"`
 }

-func (pm *ProfileManager) GetProfileState(profileName string) (*ProfileState, error) {
+// GetProfileState reads the per-profile state file keyed by profile ID.
+// The state file lives in the user's config directory. Legacy state files
+// keyed by the old profile name remain readable.
+func (pm *ProfileManager) GetProfileState(id ID) (*ProfileState, error) {
 	configDir, err := getConfigDir()
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("get config directory: %w", err)
 	}

-	stateFile := filepath.Join(configDir, profileName+".state.json")
+	if id != defaultProfileName && !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(id) {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid profile ID: %q", id)
+	}
+
+	stateFile := filepath.Join(configDir, id.String()+".state.json")
 	stateFileExists, err := fileExists(stateFile)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to check if profile state file exists: %w", err)
@@ -51,7 +58,12 @@ func (pm *ProfileManager) SetActiveProfileState(state *ProfileState) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("get active profile: %w", err)
 	}

-	stateFile := filepath.Join(configDir, activeProf.Name+".state.json")
+	id := activeProf.ID
+	if id != defaultProfileName && !IsValidProfileFilenameStem(id) {
+		return fmt.Errorf("invalid active profile ID: %q", id)
+	}
+
+	stateFile := filepath.Join(configDir, id.String()+".state.json")
 	err = util.WriteJsonWithRestrictedPermission(context.Background(), stateFile, state)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("write profile state: %w", err)
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/dnsinterceptor/handler.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/dnsinterceptor/handler.go
@@ -226,12 +226,11 @@ func (d *DnsInterceptor) ServeDNS(w dns.ResponseWriter, r *dns.Msg) {
 		return
 	}

-	// pass if non A/AAAA query
-	if r.Question[0].Qtype != dns.TypeA && r.Question[0].Qtype != dns.TypeAAAA {
-		d.continueToNextHandler(w, r, logger, "non A/AAAA query")
-		return
-	}
-
+	// All query types for an intercepted domain are forwarded to the peer's
+	// DNS forwarder, which owns the name. Falling through to the system
+	// resolver would let it answer NXDOMAIN for a name it isn't authoritative
+	// for, poisoning the whole name (including the A/AAAA records the route
+	// does serve). The forwarder answers NODATA for types it cannot resolve.
 	d.mu.RLock()
 	peerKey := d.currentPeerKey
 	d.mu.RUnlock()
@@ -251,6 +250,14 @@ func (d *DnsInterceptor) ServeDNS(w dns.ResponseWriter, r *dns.Msg) {
 		r.MsgHdr.AuthenticatedData = true
 	}

+	// Advertise EDNS0 to the forwarder so it may return an Extended DNS Error
+	// describing why a lookup failed. The OPT is stripped from the reply when
+	// the original client did not request EDNS0.
+	hadEdns := r.IsEdns0() != nil
+	if !hadEdns {
+		r.SetEdns0(dns.DefaultMsgSize, false)
+	}
+
 	upstream := net.JoinHostPort(upstreamIP.String(), strconv.FormatUint(uint64(d.forwarderPort.Load()), 10))
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), dnsTimeout)
 	defer cancel()
@@ -260,6 +267,13 @@ func (d *DnsInterceptor) ServeDNS(w dns.ResponseWriter, r *dns.Msg) {
 		return
 	}

+	if ede, ok := resutil.ExtractEDE(reply); ok {
+		resutil.SetMeta(w, "ede", fmt.Sprintf("%d %s", ede.InfoCode, ede.ExtraText))
+	}
+	if !hadEdns {
+		resutil.StripOPT(reply)
+	}
+
 	resutil.SetMeta(w, "peer", peerKey)

 	reply.Id = r.Id
@@ -278,19 +292,6 @@ func (d *DnsInterceptor) writeDNSError(w dns.ResponseWriter, r *dns.Msg, logger
 	}
 }

-// continueToNextHandler signals the handler chain to try the next handler
-func (d *DnsInterceptor) continueToNextHandler(w dns.ResponseWriter, r *dns.Msg, logger *log.Entry, reason string) {
-	logger.Tracef("continuing to next handler for domain=%s reason=%s", r.Question[0].Name, reason)
-
-	resp := new(dns.Msg)
-	resp.SetRcode(r, dns.RcodeNameError)
-	// Set Zero bit to signal handler chain to continue
-	resp.MsgHdr.Zero = true
-	if err := w.WriteMsg(resp); err != nil {
-		logger.Errorf("failed writing DNS continue response: %v", err)
-	}
-}
-
 func (d *DnsInterceptor) getUpstreamIP(peerKey string) (netip.Addr, error) {
 	peerAllowedIP, exists := d.peerStore.AllowedIP(peerKey)
 	if !exists {
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/manager_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/manager_test.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build privileged
+
 package routemanager

 import (
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/rt_tables_linux_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/rt_tables_linux_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+//go:build linux && !android
+
+package systemops
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestEntryExists(t *testing.T) {
+	tempDir := t.TempDir()
+	tempFilePath := fmt.Sprintf("%s/rt_tables", tempDir)
+
+	content := []string{
+		"1000 reserved",
+		fmt.Sprintf("%d %s", NetbirdVPNTableID, NetbirdVPNTableName),
+		"9999 other_table",
+	}
+	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(tempFilePath, []byte(strings.Join(content, "\n")), 0644))
+
+	file, err := os.Open(tempFilePath)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	defer func() {
+		assert.NoError(t, file.Close())
+	}()
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name        string
+		id          int
+		shouldExist bool
+		err         error
+	}{
+		{
+			name:        "ExistsWithNetbirdPrefix",
+			id:          7120,
+			shouldExist: true,
+			err:         nil,
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "ExistsWithDifferentName",
+			id:          1000,
+			shouldExist: true,
+			err:         ErrTableIDExists,
+		},
+		{
+			name:        "DoesNotExist",
+			id:          1234,
+			shouldExist: false,
+			err:         nil,
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			exists, err := entryExists(file, tc.id)
+			if tc.err != nil {
+				assert.ErrorIs(t, err, tc.err)
+			} else {
+				assert.NoError(t, err)
+			}
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.shouldExist, exists)
+		})
+	}
+}
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_bsd_privileged_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_bsd_privileged_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,191 @@
+//go:build (darwin || dragonfly || freebsd || netbsd || openbsd) && privileged
+
+package systemops
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"net"
+	"net/netip"
+	"os/exec"
+	"regexp"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func init() {
+	testCases = append(testCases, []testCase{
+		{
+			name:              "To more specific route without custom dialer via vpn",
+			expectedInterface: expectedVPNint,
+			dialer:            &net.Dialer{},
+			expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("100.64.0.1", 12345, "10.10.0.2", 53),
+		},
+	}...)
+}
+
+func TestConcurrentRoutes(t *testing.T) {
+	baseIP := netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.0")
+
+	var intf *net.Interface
+	var nexthop Nexthop
+
+	_, intf = setupDummyInterface(t)
+	nexthop = Nexthop{netip.Addr{}, intf}
+
+	r := New(nil, nil)
+
+	var wg sync.WaitGroup
+	for i := 0; i < 1024; i++ {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func(ip netip.Addr) {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			prefix := netip.PrefixFrom(ip, 32)
+			if err := r.addToRouteTable(prefix, nexthop); err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("Failed to add route for %s: %v", prefix, err)
+			}
+		}(baseIP)
+		baseIP = baseIP.Next()
+	}
+
+	wg.Wait()
+
+	baseIP = netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.0")
+
+	for i := 0; i < 1024; i++ {
+		wg.Add(1)
+		go func(ip netip.Addr) {
+			defer wg.Done()
+			prefix := netip.PrefixFrom(ip, 32)
+			if err := r.removeFromRouteTable(prefix, nexthop); err != nil {
+				t.Errorf("Failed to remove route for %s: %v", prefix, err)
+			}
+		}(baseIP)
+		baseIP = baseIP.Next()
+	}
+
+	wg.Wait()
+}
+
+func createAndSetupDummyInterface(t *testing.T, intf string, ipAddressCIDR string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
+		err := exec.Command("ifconfig", intf, "alias", ipAddressCIDR).Run()
+		require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to create loopback alias")
+
+		t.Cleanup(func() {
+			err := exec.Command("ifconfig", intf, ipAddressCIDR, "-alias").Run()
+			assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to remove loopback alias")
+		})
+
+		return intf
+	}
+
+	prefix, err := netip.ParsePrefix(ipAddressCIDR)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to parse prefix")
+
+	netIntf, err := net.InterfaceByName(intf)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to get interface by name")
+
+	nexthop := Nexthop{netip.Addr{}, netIntf}
+
+	r := New(nil, nil)
+	err = r.addToRouteTable(prefix, nexthop)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to add route to table")
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		err := r.removeFromRouteTable(prefix, nexthop)
+		assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to remove route from table")
+	})
+
+	return intf
+}
+
+func addDummyRoute(t *testing.T, dstCIDR string, gw netip.Addr, _ string) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	var originalNexthop net.IP
+	if dstCIDR == "0.0.0.0/0" {
+		var err error
+		originalNexthop, err = fetchOriginalGateway()
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Logf("Failed to fetch original gateway: %v", err)
+		}
+
+		if output, err := exec.Command("route", "delete", "-net", dstCIDR).CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
+			t.Logf("Failed to delete route: %v, output: %s", err, output)
+		}
+	}
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		if originalNexthop != nil {
+			err := exec.Command("route", "add", "-net", dstCIDR, originalNexthop.String()).Run()
+			assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to restore original route")
+		}
+	})
+
+	err := exec.Command("route", "add", "-net", dstCIDR, gw.String()).Run()
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to add route")
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		err := exec.Command("route", "delete", "-net", dstCIDR).Run()
+		assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to remove route")
+	})
+}
+
+func fetchOriginalGateway() (net.IP, error) {
+	output, err := exec.Command("route", "-n", "get", "default").CombinedOutput()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	matches := regexp.MustCompile(`gateway: (\S+)`).FindStringSubmatch(string(output))
+	if len(matches) == 0 {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("gateway not found")
+	}
+
+	return net.ParseIP(matches[1]), nil
+}
+
+// setupDummyInterface creates a dummy tun interface for FreeBSD route testing
+func setupDummyInterface(t *testing.T) (netip.Addr, *net.Interface) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
+		return netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{192, 168, 1, 2}), &net.Interface{Name: "lo0"}
+	}
+
+	output, err := exec.Command("ifconfig", "tun", "create").CombinedOutput()
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to create tun interface: %s", string(output))
+
+	tunName := strings.TrimSpace(string(output))
+
+	output, err = exec.Command("ifconfig", tunName, "192.168.1.1", "netmask", "255.255.0.0", "192.168.1.2", "up").CombinedOutput()
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to configure tun interface: %s", string(output))
+
+	intf, err := net.InterfaceByName(tunName)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to get interface by name")
+
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		if err := exec.Command("ifconfig", tunName, "destroy").Run(); err != nil {
+			t.Logf("Failed to destroy tun interface %s: %v", tunName, err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	return netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{192, 168, 1, 2}), intf
+}
+
+func setupDummyInterfacesAndRoutes(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	defaultDummy := createAndSetupDummyInterface(t, expectedExternalInt, "192.168.0.1/24")
+	addDummyRoute(t, "0.0.0.0/0", netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{192, 168, 0, 1}), defaultDummy)
+
+	otherDummy := createAndSetupDummyInterface(t, expectedInternalInt, "192.168.1.1/24")
+	addDummyRoute(t, "10.0.0.0/8", netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{192, 168, 1, 1}), otherDummy)
+}
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_bsd_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_bsd_test.go
@@ -3,79 +3,24 @@
 package systemops

 import (
-	"fmt"
-	"net"
-	"net/netip"
-	"os/exec"
-	"regexp"
-	"runtime"
-	"strings"
-	"sync"
 	"testing"

 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"golang.org/x/net/route"
 )

+// Interface names used by the shared routing test fixtures. Kept untagged (no
+// privileged build tag) so the non-privileged test files in this package compile.
+//
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
 var expectedVPNint = "utun100"
+
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
 var expectedExternalInt = "lo0"
+
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
 var expectedInternalInt = "lo0"

-func init() {
-	testCases = append(testCases, []testCase{
-		{
-			name:              "To more specific route without custom dialer via vpn",
-			expectedInterface: expectedVPNint,
-			dialer:            &net.Dialer{},
-			expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("100.64.0.1", 12345, "10.10.0.2", 53),
-		},
-	}...)
-}
-
-func TestConcurrentRoutes(t *testing.T) {
-	baseIP := netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.0")
-
-	var intf *net.Interface
-	var nexthop Nexthop
-
-	_, intf = setupDummyInterface(t)
-	nexthop = Nexthop{netip.Addr{}, intf}
-
-	r := New(nil, nil)
-
-	var wg sync.WaitGroup
-	for i := 0; i < 1024; i++ {
-		wg.Add(1)
-		go func(ip netip.Addr) {
-			defer wg.Done()
-			prefix := netip.PrefixFrom(ip, 32)
-			if err := r.addToRouteTable(prefix, nexthop); err != nil {
-				t.Errorf("Failed to add route for %s: %v", prefix, err)
-			}
-		}(baseIP)
-		baseIP = baseIP.Next()
-	}
-
-	wg.Wait()
-
-	baseIP = netip.MustParseAddr("192.0.2.0")
-
-	for i := 0; i < 1024; i++ {
-		wg.Add(1)
-		go func(ip netip.Addr) {
-			defer wg.Done()
-			prefix := netip.PrefixFrom(ip, 32)
-			if err := r.removeFromRouteTable(prefix, nexthop); err != nil {
-				t.Errorf("Failed to remove route for %s: %v", prefix, err)
-			}
-		}(baseIP)
-		baseIP = baseIP.Next()
-	}
-
-	wg.Wait()
-}
-
 func TestBits(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name    string
@@ -122,122 +67,3 @@ func TestBits(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
-
-func createAndSetupDummyInterface(t *testing.T, intf string, ipAddressCIDR string) string {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
-		err := exec.Command("ifconfig", intf, "alias", ipAddressCIDR).Run()
-		require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to create loopback alias")
-
-		t.Cleanup(func() {
-			err := exec.Command("ifconfig", intf, ipAddressCIDR, "-alias").Run()
-			assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to remove loopback alias")
-		})
-
-		return intf
-	}
-
-	prefix, err := netip.ParsePrefix(ipAddressCIDR)
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to parse prefix")
-
-	netIntf, err := net.InterfaceByName(intf)
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to get interface by name")
-
-	nexthop := Nexthop{netip.Addr{}, netIntf}
-
-	r := New(nil, nil)
-	err = r.addToRouteTable(prefix, nexthop)
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to add route to table")
-
-	t.Cleanup(func() {
-		err := r.removeFromRouteTable(prefix, nexthop)
-		assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to remove route from table")
-	})
-
-	return intf
-}
-
-func addDummyRoute(t *testing.T, dstCIDR string, gw netip.Addr, _ string) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	var originalNexthop net.IP
-	if dstCIDR == "0.0.0.0/0" {
-		var err error
-		originalNexthop, err = fetchOriginalGateway()
-		if err != nil {
-			t.Logf("Failed to fetch original gateway: %v", err)
-		}
-
-		if output, err := exec.Command("route", "delete", "-net", dstCIDR).CombinedOutput(); err != nil {
-			t.Logf("Failed to delete route: %v, output: %s", err, output)
-		}
-	}
-
-	t.Cleanup(func() {
-		if originalNexthop != nil {
-			err := exec.Command("route", "add", "-net", dstCIDR, originalNexthop.String()).Run()
-			assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to restore original route")
-		}
-	})
-
-	err := exec.Command("route", "add", "-net", dstCIDR, gw.String()).Run()
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to add route")
-
-	t.Cleanup(func() {
-		err := exec.Command("route", "delete", "-net", dstCIDR).Run()
-		assert.NoError(t, err, "Failed to remove route")
-	})
-}
-
-func fetchOriginalGateway() (net.IP, error) {
-	output, err := exec.Command("route", "-n", "get", "default").CombinedOutput()
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	matches := regexp.MustCompile(`gateway: (\S+)`).FindStringSubmatch(string(output))
-	if len(matches) == 0 {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("gateway not found")
-	}
-
-	return net.ParseIP(matches[1]), nil
-}
-
-// setupDummyInterface creates a dummy tun interface for FreeBSD route testing
-func setupDummyInterface(t *testing.T) (netip.Addr, *net.Interface) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	if runtime.GOOS == "darwin" {
-		return netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{192, 168, 1, 2}), &net.Interface{Name: "lo0"}
-	}
-
-	output, err := exec.Command("ifconfig", "tun", "create").CombinedOutput()
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to create tun interface: %s", string(output))
-
-	tunName := strings.TrimSpace(string(output))
-
-	output, err = exec.Command("ifconfig", tunName, "192.168.1.1", "netmask", "255.255.0.0", "192.168.1.2", "up").CombinedOutput()
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to configure tun interface: %s", string(output))
-
-	intf, err := net.InterfaceByName(tunName)
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to get interface by name")
-
-	t.Cleanup(func() {
-		if err := exec.Command("ifconfig", tunName, "destroy").Run(); err != nil {
-			t.Logf("Failed to destroy tun interface %s: %v", tunName, err)
-		}
-	})
-
-	return netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{192, 168, 1, 2}), intf
-}
-
-func setupDummyInterfacesAndRoutes(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	defaultDummy := createAndSetupDummyInterface(t, expectedExternalInt, "192.168.0.1/24")
-	addDummyRoute(t, "0.0.0.0/0", netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{192, 168, 0, 1}), defaultDummy)
-
-	otherDummy := createAndSetupDummyInterface(t, expectedInternalInt, "192.168.1.1/24")
-	addDummyRoute(t, "10.0.0.0/8", netip.AddrFrom4([4]byte{192, 168, 1, 1}), otherDummy)
-}
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_dialer_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_dialer_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+//go:build !android && !ios
+
+package systemops
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net"
+)
+
+// dialer is shared by the per-platform routing test cases. Kept untagged (no
+// privileged build tag) so the non-privileged test files compile on every platform.
+//
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
+type dialer interface {
+	Dial(network, address string) (net.Conn, error)
+	DialContext(ctx context.Context, network, address string) (net.Conn, error)
+}
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_generic_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_generic_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//go:build !android && !ios
+//go:build !android && !ios && privileged

 package systemops

@@ -26,11 +26,6 @@ import (
 	nbnet "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
 )

-type dialer interface {
-	Dial(network, address string) (net.Conn, error)
-	DialContext(ctx context.Context, network, address string) (net.Conn, error)
-}
-
 func TestAddVPNRoute(t *testing.T) {
 	testCases := []struct {
 		name        string
@@ -515,125 +510,3 @@ func setupTestEnv(t *testing.T) {
 	// unique route in vpn table
 	setupRouteAndCleanup(t, r, netip.MustParsePrefix("172.16.0.0/12"), intf)
 }
-
-func TestIsVpnRoute(t *testing.T) {
-	tests := []struct {
-		name           string
-		addr           string
-		vpnRoutes      []string
-		localRoutes    []string
-		expectedVpn    bool
-		expectedPrefix netip.Prefix
-	}{
-		{
-			name:           "Match in VPN routes",
-			addr:           "192.168.1.1",
-			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
-			localRoutes:    []string{"10.0.0.0/8"},
-			expectedVpn:    true,
-			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"),
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "Match in local routes",
-			addr:           "10.1.1.1",
-			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
-			localRoutes:    []string{"10.0.0.0/8"},
-			expectedVpn:    false,
-			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.0/8"),
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "No match",
-			addr:           "172.16.0.1",
-			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
-			localRoutes:    []string{"10.0.0.0/8"},
-			expectedVpn:    false,
-			expectedPrefix: netip.Prefix{},
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "Default route ignored",
-			addr:           "192.168.1.1",
-			vpnRoutes:      []string{"0.0.0.0/0", "192.168.1.0/24"},
-			localRoutes:    []string{"10.0.0.0/8"},
-			expectedVpn:    true,
-			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"),
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "Default route matches but ignored",
-			addr:           "172.16.1.1",
-			vpnRoutes:      []string{"0.0.0.0/0", "192.168.1.0/24"},
-			localRoutes:    []string{"10.0.0.0/8"},
-			expectedVpn:    false,
-			expectedPrefix: netip.Prefix{},
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "Longest prefix match local",
-			addr:           "192.168.1.1",
-			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.0.0/16"},
-			localRoutes:    []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
-			expectedVpn:    false,
-			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"),
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "Longest prefix match local multiple",
-			addr:           "192.168.0.1",
-			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.0.0/16", "192.168.0.0/25", "192.168.0.0/27"},
-			localRoutes:    []string{"192.168.0.0/24", "192.168.0.0/26", "192.168.0.0/28"},
-			expectedVpn:    false,
-			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.0.0/28"),
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "Longest prefix match vpn",
-			addr:           "192.168.1.1",
-			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
-			localRoutes:    []string{"192.168.0.0/16"},
-			expectedVpn:    true,
-			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"),
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "Longest prefix match vpn multiple",
-			addr:           "192.168.0.1",
-			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.0.0/16", "192.168.0.0/25", "192.168.0.0/27"},
-			localRoutes:    []string{"192.168.0.0/24", "192.168.0.0/26"},
-			expectedVpn:    true,
-			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.0.0/27"),
-		},
-		{
-			name:           "Duplicate prefix in both",
-			addr:           "192.168.1.1",
-			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
-			localRoutes:    []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
-			expectedVpn:    false,
-			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"),
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tt := range tests {
-		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			addr, err := netip.ParseAddr(tt.addr)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatalf("Failed to parse address %s: %v", tt.addr, err)
-			}
-
-			var vpnRoutes, localRoutes []netip.Prefix
-			for _, route := range tt.vpnRoutes {
-				prefix, err := netip.ParsePrefix(route)
-				if err != nil {
-					t.Fatalf("Failed to parse VPN route %s: %v", route, err)
-				}
-				vpnRoutes = append(vpnRoutes, prefix)
-			}
-
-			for _, route := range tt.localRoutes {
-				prefix, err := netip.ParsePrefix(route)
-				if err != nil {
-					t.Fatalf("Failed to parse local route %s: %v", route, err)
-				}
-				localRoutes = append(localRoutes, prefix)
-			}
-
-			isVpn, matchedPrefix := isVpnRoute(addr, vpnRoutes, localRoutes)
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectedVpn, isVpn, "isVpnRoute should return expectedVpn value")
-			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectedPrefix, matchedPrefix, "isVpnRoute should return expectedVpn prefix")
-		})
-	}
-}
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_isvpnroute_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_isvpnroute_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,132 @@
+//go:build !android && !ios
+
+package systemops
+
+import (
+	"net/netip"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestIsVpnRoute(t *testing.T) {
+	tests := []struct {
+		name           string
+		addr           string
+		vpnRoutes      []string
+		localRoutes    []string
+		expectedVpn    bool
+		expectedPrefix netip.Prefix
+	}{
+		{
+			name:           "Match in VPN routes",
+			addr:           "192.168.1.1",
+			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
+			localRoutes:    []string{"10.0.0.0/8"},
+			expectedVpn:    true,
+			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "Match in local routes",
+			addr:           "10.1.1.1",
+			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
+			localRoutes:    []string{"10.0.0.0/8"},
+			expectedVpn:    false,
+			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.0/8"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "No match",
+			addr:           "172.16.0.1",
+			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
+			localRoutes:    []string{"10.0.0.0/8"},
+			expectedVpn:    false,
+			expectedPrefix: netip.Prefix{},
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "Default route ignored",
+			addr:           "192.168.1.1",
+			vpnRoutes:      []string{"0.0.0.0/0", "192.168.1.0/24"},
+			localRoutes:    []string{"10.0.0.0/8"},
+			expectedVpn:    true,
+			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "Default route matches but ignored",
+			addr:           "172.16.1.1",
+			vpnRoutes:      []string{"0.0.0.0/0", "192.168.1.0/24"},
+			localRoutes:    []string{"10.0.0.0/8"},
+			expectedVpn:    false,
+			expectedPrefix: netip.Prefix{},
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "Longest prefix match local",
+			addr:           "192.168.1.1",
+			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.0.0/16"},
+			localRoutes:    []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
+			expectedVpn:    false,
+			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "Longest prefix match local multiple",
+			addr:           "192.168.0.1",
+			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.0.0/16", "192.168.0.0/25", "192.168.0.0/27"},
+			localRoutes:    []string{"192.168.0.0/24", "192.168.0.0/26", "192.168.0.0/28"},
+			expectedVpn:    false,
+			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.0.0/28"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "Longest prefix match vpn",
+			addr:           "192.168.1.1",
+			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
+			localRoutes:    []string{"192.168.0.0/16"},
+			expectedVpn:    true,
+			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "Longest prefix match vpn multiple",
+			addr:           "192.168.0.1",
+			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.0.0/16", "192.168.0.0/25", "192.168.0.0/27"},
+			localRoutes:    []string{"192.168.0.0/24", "192.168.0.0/26"},
+			expectedVpn:    true,
+			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.0.0/27"),
+		},
+		{
+			name:           "Duplicate prefix in both",
+			addr:           "192.168.1.1",
+			vpnRoutes:      []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
+			localRoutes:    []string{"192.168.1.0/24"},
+			expectedVpn:    false,
+			expectedPrefix: netip.MustParsePrefix("192.168.1.0/24"),
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			addr, err := netip.ParseAddr(tt.addr)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatalf("Failed to parse address %s: %v", tt.addr, err)
+			}
+
+			var vpnRoutes, localRoutes []netip.Prefix
+			for _, route := range tt.vpnRoutes {
+				prefix, err := netip.ParsePrefix(route)
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("Failed to parse VPN route %s: %v", route, err)
+				}
+				vpnRoutes = append(vpnRoutes, prefix)
+			}
+
+			for _, route := range tt.localRoutes {
+				prefix, err := netip.ParsePrefix(route)
+				if err != nil {
+					t.Fatalf("Failed to parse local route %s: %v", route, err)
+				}
+				localRoutes = append(localRoutes, prefix)
+			}
+
+			isVpn, matchedPrefix := isVpnRoute(addr, vpnRoutes, localRoutes)
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectedVpn, isVpn, "isVpnRoute should return expectedVpn value")
+			assert.Equal(t, tt.expectedPrefix, matchedPrefix, "isVpnRoute should return expectedVpn prefix")
+		})
+	}
+}
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_linux_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_linux_test.go
@@ -1,13 +1,10 @@
-//go:build !android
+//go:build linux && !android && privileged

 package systemops

 import (
 	"errors"
-	"fmt"
 	"net"
-	"os"
-	"strings"
 	"syscall"
 	"testing"

@@ -18,10 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/routemanager/vars"
 )

-var expectedVPNint = "wgtest0"
-var expectedExternalInt = "dummyext0"
-var expectedInternalInt = "dummyint0"
-
 func init() {
 	testCases = append(testCases, []testCase{
 		{
@@ -33,62 +26,6 @@ func init() {
 	}...)
 }

-func TestEntryExists(t *testing.T) {
-	tempDir := t.TempDir()
-	tempFilePath := fmt.Sprintf("%s/rt_tables", tempDir)
-
-	content := []string{
-		"1000 reserved",
-		fmt.Sprintf("%d %s", NetbirdVPNTableID, NetbirdVPNTableName),
-		"9999 other_table",
-	}
-	require.NoError(t, os.WriteFile(tempFilePath, []byte(strings.Join(content, "\n")), 0644))
-
-	file, err := os.Open(tempFilePath)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	defer func() {
-		assert.NoError(t, file.Close())
-	}()
-
-	tests := []struct {
-		name        string
-		id          int
-		shouldExist bool
-		err         error
-	}{
-		{
-			name:        "ExistsWithNetbirdPrefix",
-			id:          7120,
-			shouldExist: true,
-			err:         nil,
-		},
-		{
-			name:        "ExistsWithDifferentName",
-			id:          1000,
-			shouldExist: true,
-			err:         ErrTableIDExists,
-		},
-		{
-			name:        "DoesNotExist",
-			id:          1234,
-			shouldExist: false,
-			err:         nil,
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tc := range tests {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			exists, err := entryExists(file, tc.id)
-			if tc.err != nil {
-				assert.ErrorIs(t, err, tc.err)
-			} else {
-				assert.NoError(t, err)
-			}
-			assert.Equal(t, tc.shouldExist, exists)
-		})
-	}
-}
-
 func createAndSetupDummyInterface(t *testing.T, interfaceName, ipAddressCIDR string) string {
 	t.Helper()

--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_routing_data_linux_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_routing_data_linux_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+//go:build linux && !android
+
+package systemops
+
+// Interface names used by the shared routing test fixtures. Kept untagged (no
+// privileged build tag) so the non-privileged test files in this package compile.
+//
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
+var expectedVPNint = "wgtest0"
+
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
+var expectedExternalInt = "dummyext0"
+
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
+var expectedInternalInt = "dummyint0"
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_routing_data_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_routing_data_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+//go:build (linux && !android) || (darwin && !ios) || freebsd || openbsd || netbsd || dragonfly
+
+package systemops
+
+import (
+	"net"
+
+	nbnet "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
+)
+
+// Shared, non-privileged routing test fixtures. The privileged TestRouting (and its
+// per-platform init() appenders) consume these; they live here so the unprivileged
+// BSD/darwin test files compile without the privileged build tag.
+
+type PacketExpectation struct {
+	SrcIP   net.IP
+	DstIP   net.IP
+	SrcPort int
+	DstPort int
+	UDP     bool
+	TCP     bool
+}
+
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
+type testCase struct {
+	name              string
+	expectedInterface string
+	dialer            dialer
+	expectedPacket    PacketExpectation
+}
+
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
+var testCases = []testCase{
+	{
+		name:              "To external host without custom dialer via vpn",
+		expectedInterface: expectedVPNint,
+		dialer:            &net.Dialer{},
+		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("100.64.0.1", 12345, "192.0.2.1", 53),
+	},
+	{
+		name:              "To external host with custom dialer via physical interface",
+		expectedInterface: expectedExternalInt,
+		dialer:            nbnet.NewDialer(),
+		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("192.168.0.1", 12345, "192.0.2.1", 53),
+	},
+
+	{
+		name:              "To duplicate internal route with custom dialer via physical interface",
+		expectedInterface: expectedInternalInt,
+		dialer:            nbnet.NewDialer(),
+		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("192.168.1.1", 12345, "10.0.0.2", 53),
+	},
+	{
+		name:              "To duplicate internal route without custom dialer via physical interface", // local route takes precedence
+		expectedInterface: expectedInternalInt,
+		dialer:            &net.Dialer{},
+		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("192.168.1.1", 12345, "10.0.0.2", 53),
+	},
+
+	{
+		name:              "To unique vpn route with custom dialer via physical interface",
+		expectedInterface: expectedExternalInt,
+		dialer:            nbnet.NewDialer(),
+		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("192.168.0.1", 12345, "172.16.0.2", 53),
+	},
+	{
+		name:              "To unique vpn route without custom dialer via vpn",
+		expectedInterface: expectedVPNint,
+		dialer:            &net.Dialer{},
+		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("100.64.0.1", 12345, "172.16.0.2", 53),
+	},
+}
+
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
+func createPacketExpectation(srcIP string, srcPort int, dstIP string, dstPort int) PacketExpectation {
+	return PacketExpectation{
+		SrcIP:   net.ParseIP(srcIP),
+		DstIP:   net.ParseIP(dstIP),
+		SrcPort: srcPort,
+		DstPort: dstPort,
+		UDP:     true,
+	}
+}
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_unix_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_unix_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//go:build (linux && !android) || (darwin && !ios) || freebsd || openbsd || netbsd || dragonfly
+//go:build ((linux && !android) || (darwin && !ios) || freebsd || openbsd || netbsd || dragonfly) && privileged

 package systemops

@@ -20,63 +20,6 @@ import (
 	nbnet "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/net"
 )

-type PacketExpectation struct {
-	SrcIP   net.IP
-	DstIP   net.IP
-	SrcPort int
-	DstPort int
-	UDP     bool
-	TCP     bool
-}
-
-type testCase struct {
-	name              string
-	expectedInterface string
-	dialer            dialer
-	expectedPacket    PacketExpectation
-}
-
-var testCases = []testCase{
-	{
-		name:              "To external host without custom dialer via vpn",
-		expectedInterface: expectedVPNint,
-		dialer:            &net.Dialer{},
-		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("100.64.0.1", 12345, "192.0.2.1", 53),
-	},
-	{
-		name:              "To external host with custom dialer via physical interface",
-		expectedInterface: expectedExternalInt,
-		dialer:            nbnet.NewDialer(),
-		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("192.168.0.1", 12345, "192.0.2.1", 53),
-	},
-
-	{
-		name:              "To duplicate internal route with custom dialer via physical interface",
-		expectedInterface: expectedInternalInt,
-		dialer:            nbnet.NewDialer(),
-		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("192.168.1.1", 12345, "10.0.0.2", 53),
-	},
-	{
-		name:              "To duplicate internal route without custom dialer via physical interface", // local route takes precedence
-		expectedInterface: expectedInternalInt,
-		dialer:            &net.Dialer{},
-		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("192.168.1.1", 12345, "10.0.0.2", 53),
-	},
-
-	{
-		name:              "To unique vpn route with custom dialer via physical interface",
-		expectedInterface: expectedExternalInt,
-		dialer:            nbnet.NewDialer(),
-		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("192.168.0.1", 12345, "172.16.0.2", 53),
-	},
-	{
-		name:              "To unique vpn route without custom dialer via vpn",
-		expectedInterface: expectedVPNint,
-		dialer:            &net.Dialer{},
-		expectedPacket:    createPacketExpectation("100.64.0.1", 12345, "172.16.0.2", 53),
-	},
-}
-
 func TestRouting(t *testing.T) {
 	nbnet.Init()
 	for _, tc := range testCases {
@@ -102,16 +45,6 @@ func TestRouting(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-func createPacketExpectation(srcIP string, srcPort int, dstIP string, dstPort int) PacketExpectation {
-	return PacketExpectation{
-		SrcIP:   net.ParseIP(srcIP),
-		DstIP:   net.ParseIP(dstIP),
-		SrcPort: srcPort,
-		DstPort: dstPort,
-		UDP:     true,
-	}
-}
-
 func startPacketCapture(t *testing.T, intf, filter string) *pcap.Handle {
 	t.Helper()

--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_windows_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/systemops_windows_test.go
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+//go:build windows && privileged
+
 package systemops

 import (
--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/v6route_bsd_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/v6route_bsd_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
 // ensureIPv6DefaultRoute installs an IPv6 default route via the loopback
 // interface so route lookups for global IPv6 prefixes resolve in environments
 // without v6 connectivity. If a default already exists it is left alone.
+//
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
 func ensureIPv6DefaultRoute(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Helper()

--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/v6route_linux_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/v6route_linux_test.go
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-//go:build linux && !android
+//go:build linux && !android && privileged

 package systemops

--- a/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/v6route_windows_test.go
+++ b/client/internal/routemanager/systemops/v6route_windows_test.go
@@ -8,11 +8,14 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )

+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
 const loopbackIfaceWindows = "Loopback Pseudo-Interface 1"

 // ensureIPv6DefaultRoute installs an IPv6 default route via the loopback
 // interface so route lookups for global IPv6 prefixes resolve in environments
 // without v6 connectivity. If a default already exists it is left alone.
+//
+//nolint:unused // consumed by the privileged-tagged routing tests
 func ensureIPv6DefaultRoute(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Helper()

--- a/client/ios/NetBirdSDK/login.go
+++ b/client/ios/NetBirdSDK/login.go
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ type URLOpener interface {
 // Auth can register or login new client
 type Auth struct {
 	ctx     context.Context
+	cancel  context.CancelFunc
 	config  *profilemanager.Config
 	cfgPath string
 }
@@ -51,8 +52,19 @@ func NewAuth(cfgPath string, mgmURL string) (*Auth, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}

+	// Use a cancellable context so Stop() can abort an in-progress interactive
+	// login. The PKCE flow's WaitToken blocks (and keeps its loopback HTTP server
+	// bound to a port) until the OAuth callback arrives or the flow expires;
+	// cancelling the context unblocks WaitToken, which then shuts that server down
+	// and frees the port for the next login attempt. iOS runs login in the main-app
+	// process (decoupled from the network extension), so without this the server
+	// lingers after the user dismisses the browser and the next connect stalls
+	// trying to bind the same port.
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+
 	return &Auth{
-		ctx:     context.Background(),
+		ctx:     ctx,
+		cancel:  cancel,
 		config:  cfg,
 		cfgPath: cfgPath,
 	}, nil
@@ -60,12 +72,24 @@ func NewAuth(cfgPath string, mgmURL string) (*Auth, error) {

 // NewAuthWithConfig instantiate Auth based on existing config
 func NewAuthWithConfig(ctx context.Context, config *profilemanager.Config) *Auth {
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(ctx)
 	return &Auth{
 		ctx:    ctx,
+		cancel: cancel,
 		config: config,
 	}
 }

+// Stop aborts an in-progress interactive login started via Login/LoginWithDeviceName.
+// It cancels the auth context, which unblocks the PKCE WaitToken and shuts down its
+// loopback HTTP server, freeing the redirect port. Safe to call multiple times and
+// safe to call when no login is running.
+func (a *Auth) Stop() {
+	if a.cancel != nil {
+		a.cancel()
+	}
+}
+
 // SaveConfigIfSSOSupported test the connectivity with the management server by retrieving the server device flow info.
 // If it returns a flow info than save the configuration and return true. If it gets a codes.NotFound, it means that SSO
 // is not supported and returns false without saving the configuration. For other errors return false.
--- a/client/proto/daemon.pb.go
+++ b/client/proto/daemon.pb.go
--- a/client/proto/daemon.proto
+++ b/client/proto/daemon.proto
@@ -85,6 +85,8 @@ service DaemonService {

  rpc AddProfile(AddProfileRequest) returns (AddProfileResponse) {}

+  rpc RenameProfile(RenameProfileRequest) returns (RenameProfileResponse) {}
+
  rpc RemoveProfile(RemoveProfileRequest) returns (RemoveProfileResponse) {}

  rpc ListProfiles(ListProfilesRequest) returns (ListProfilesResponse) {}
@@ -625,11 +627,18 @@ message GetEventsResponse {
 }

 message SwitchProfileRequest {
+  // profileName is treated as a handle: exact ID, unique ID prefix, or
+  // unique display name. The daemon resolves it server-side.
  optional string profileName = 1;
  optional string username = 2;
 }

-message SwitchProfileResponse {}
+message SwitchProfileResponse {
+  // id is the resolved on-disk ID of the profile that became active.
+  // Lets CLI clients update their local active-profile state without
+  // duplicating the resolution logic.
+  string id = 1;
+}

 message SetConfigRequest {
  string username = 1;
@@ -696,17 +705,42 @@ message SetConfigResponse{}

 message AddProfileRequest {
  string username = 1;
+  // profileName carries the human-readable display name for the new
+  // profile. The on-disk filename is a separately-generated ID.
  string profileName = 2;
 }

-message AddProfileResponse {}
+message AddProfileResponse {
+  // id is the generated on-disk ID of the new profile. CLI clients
+  // display a truncated form, UI clients can ignore it.
+  string id = 1;
+}
+
+message RenameProfileRequest {
+  string username = 1;
+  // handle: an exact ID, a unique ID prefix, or a unique display name.
+  string handle = 2;
+  // newProfileName is the new human-readable display name for the profile.
+  string newProfileName = 3;
+}
+
+message RenameProfileResponse {
+  // confirm the old profile name after resolving handle.
+  string oldProfileName = 1;
+}

 message RemoveProfileRequest {
  string username = 1;
+  // profileName is treated as a handle: an exact ID, a unique ID
+  // prefix, or a unique display name. Resolution happens server-side.
  string profileName = 2;
 }

-message RemoveProfileResponse {}
+message RemoveProfileResponse {
+  // id is the full resolved ID of the removed profile, so callers can
+  // confirm exactly which profile a name/prefix handle resolved to.
+  string id = 1;
+}

 message ListProfilesRequest {
  string username = 1;
@@ -719,6 +753,7 @@ message ListProfilesResponse {
 message Profile {
  string name = 1;
  bool is_active = 2;
+  string id = 3;
 }

 message GetActiveProfileRequest {}
@@ -726,6 +761,7 @@ message GetActiveProfileRequest {}
 message GetActiveProfileResponse {
  string profileName = 1;
  string username = 2;
+  string id = 3;
 }

 message LogoutRequest {
--- a/client/proto/daemon_grpc.pb.go
+++ b/client/proto/daemon_grpc.pb.go
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ const (
 	DaemonService_SwitchProfile_FullMethodName              = "/daemon.DaemonService/SwitchProfile"
 	DaemonService_SetConfig_FullMethodName                  = "/daemon.DaemonService/SetConfig"
 	DaemonService_AddProfile_FullMethodName                 = "/daemon.DaemonService/AddProfile"
+	DaemonService_RenameProfile_FullMethodName              = "/daemon.DaemonService/RenameProfile"
 	DaemonService_RemoveProfile_FullMethodName              = "/daemon.DaemonService/RemoveProfile"
 	DaemonService_ListProfiles_FullMethodName               = "/daemon.DaemonService/ListProfiles"
 	DaemonService_GetActiveProfile_FullMethodName           = "/daemon.DaemonService/GetActiveProfile"
@@ -112,6 +113,7 @@ type DaemonServiceClient interface {
 	SwitchProfile(ctx context.Context, in *SwitchProfileRequest, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (*SwitchProfileResponse, error)
 	SetConfig(ctx context.Context, in *SetConfigRequest, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (*SetConfigResponse, error)
 	AddProfile(ctx context.Context, in *AddProfileRequest, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (*AddProfileResponse, error)
+	RenameProfile(ctx context.Context, in *RenameProfileRequest, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (*RenameProfileResponse, error)
 	RemoveProfile(ctx context.Context, in *RemoveProfileRequest, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (*RemoveProfileResponse, error)
 	ListProfiles(ctx context.Context, in *ListProfilesRequest, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (*ListProfilesResponse, error)
 	GetActiveProfile(ctx context.Context, in *GetActiveProfileRequest, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (*GetActiveProfileResponse, error)
@@ -422,6 +424,16 @@ func (c *daemonServiceClient) AddProfile(ctx context.Context, in *AddProfileRequ
 	return out, nil
 }

+func (c *daemonServiceClient) RenameProfile(ctx context.Context, in *RenameProfileRequest, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (*RenameProfileResponse, error) {
+	cOpts := append([]grpc.CallOption{grpc.StaticMethod()}, opts...)
+	out := new(RenameProfileResponse)
+	err := c.cc.Invoke(ctx, DaemonService_RenameProfile_FullMethodName, in, out, cOpts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
 func (c *daemonServiceClient) RemoveProfile(ctx context.Context, in *RemoveProfileRequest, opts ...grpc.CallOption) (*RemoveProfileResponse, error) {
 	cOpts := append([]grpc.CallOption{grpc.StaticMethod()}, opts...)
 	out := new(RemoveProfileResponse)
@@ -613,6 +625,7 @@ type DaemonServiceServer interface {
 	SwitchProfile(context.Context, *SwitchProfileRequest) (*SwitchProfileResponse, error)
 	SetConfig(context.Context, *SetConfigRequest) (*SetConfigResponse, error)
 	AddProfile(context.Context, *AddProfileRequest) (*AddProfileResponse, error)
+	RenameProfile(context.Context, *RenameProfileRequest) (*RenameProfileResponse, error)
 	RemoveProfile(context.Context, *RemoveProfileRequest) (*RemoveProfileResponse, error)
 	ListProfiles(context.Context, *ListProfilesRequest) (*ListProfilesResponse, error)
 	GetActiveProfile(context.Context, *GetActiveProfileRequest) (*GetActiveProfileResponse, error)
@@ -723,6 +736,9 @@ func (UnimplementedDaemonServiceServer) SetConfig(context.Context, *SetConfigReq
 func (UnimplementedDaemonServiceServer) AddProfile(context.Context, *AddProfileRequest) (*AddProfileResponse, error) {
 	return nil, status.Error(codes.Unimplemented, "method AddProfile not implemented")
 }
+func (UnimplementedDaemonServiceServer) RenameProfile(context.Context, *RenameProfileRequest) (*RenameProfileResponse, error) {
+	return nil, status.Error(codes.Unimplemented, "method RenameProfile not implemented")
+}
 func (UnimplementedDaemonServiceServer) RemoveProfile(context.Context, *RemoveProfileRequest) (*RemoveProfileResponse, error) {
 	return nil, status.Error(codes.Unimplemented, "method RemoveProfile not implemented")
 }
@@ -1237,6 +1253,24 @@ func _DaemonService_AddProfile_Handler(srv interface{}, ctx context.Context, dec
 	return interceptor(ctx, in, info, handler)
 }

+func _DaemonService_RenameProfile_Handler(srv interface{}, ctx context.Context, dec func(interface{}) error, interceptor grpc.UnaryServerInterceptor) (interface{}, error) {
+	in := new(RenameProfileRequest)
+	if err := dec(in); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if interceptor == nil {
+		return srv.(DaemonServiceServer).RenameProfile(ctx, in)
+	}
+	info := &grpc.UnaryServerInfo{
+		Server:     srv,
+		FullMethod: DaemonService_RenameProfile_FullMethodName,
+	}
+	handler := func(ctx context.Context, req interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
+		return srv.(DaemonServiceServer).RenameProfile(ctx, req.(*RenameProfileRequest))
+	}
+	return interceptor(ctx, in, info, handler)
+}
+
 func _DaemonService_RemoveProfile_Handler(srv interface{}, ctx context.Context, dec func(interface{}) error, interceptor grpc.UnaryServerInterceptor) (interface{}, error) {
 	in := new(RemoveProfileRequest)
 	if err := dec(in); err != nil {
@@ -1567,6 +1601,10 @@ var DaemonService_ServiceDesc = grpc.ServiceDesc{
 			MethodName: "AddProfile",
 			Handler:    _DaemonService_AddProfile_Handler,
 		},
+		{
+			MethodName: "RenameProfile",
+			Handler:    _DaemonService_RenameProfile_Handler,
+		},
 		{
 			MethodName: "RemoveProfile",
 			Handler:    _DaemonService_RemoveProfile_Handler,
--- a/client/server/login_overrides_test.go
+++ b/client/server/login_overrides_test.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ func TestPersistLoginOverrides(t *testing.T) {
 			_, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(seed)
 			require.NoError(t, err, "seed config")

-			activeProf := &profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{Name: "default"}
+			activeProf := &profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{ID: "default"}
 			err = persistLoginOverrides(activeProf, tt.newMgmtURL, tt.newPSK)
 			require.NoError(t, err, "persistLoginOverrides")

--- a/client/server/server.go
+++ b/client/server/server.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ type Server struct {
 	// changed by connectWithRetryRuns goroutine exit — for that
 	// (goroutine-still-alive) check, see connectionGoroutineRunning() which
 	// derives from clientGiveUpChan close state. Protected by s.mutex.
-	clientRunning          bool
+	clientRunning     bool
 	clientRunningChan chan struct{}
 	clientGiveUpChan  chan struct{} // closed when connectWithRetryRuns goroutine exits

@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ func (s *Server) SetConfig(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SetConfigReques
 		return nil, err
 	}

-	config, err := setConfigInputFromRequest(msg)
+	config, err := s.setConfigInputFromRequest(msg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -398,17 +398,17 @@ func (s *Server) SetConfig(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SetConfigReques
 // field is its own optional case. Returns the resolved ConfigInput
 // and a non-nil error only when the active profile file path cannot
 // be determined.
-func setConfigInputFromRequest(msg *proto.SetConfigRequest) (profilemanager.ConfigInput, error) {
+func (s *Server) setConfigInputFromRequest(msg *proto.SetConfigRequest) (profilemanager.ConfigInput, error) {
 	var config profilemanager.ConfigInput

-	profState := profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     msg.ProfileName,
-		Username: msg.Username,
-	}
-	profPath, err := profState.FilePath()
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile file path: %v", err)
-		return config, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile file path: %w", err)
+		log.Errorf("failed to resolve profile %q: %v", msg.ProfileName, err)
+		return config, err
+	}
+	profPath := resolved.Path
+	if profPath == "" {
+		profPath = profilemanager.DefaultConfigPath
 	}
 	config.ConfigPath = profPath

@@ -535,30 +535,9 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 	}

 	if msg.ProfileName != nil {
-		if *msg.ProfileName != "default" && (msg.Username == nil || *msg.Username == "") {
-			log.Errorf("profile name is set to %s, but username is not provided", *msg.ProfileName)
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("profile name is set to %s, but username is not provided", *msg.ProfileName)
-		}
-
-		var username string
-		if *msg.ProfileName != "default" {
-			username = *msg.Username
-		}
-
-		if *msg.ProfileName != activeProf.Name && username != activeProf.Username {
-			if s.checkProfilesDisabled() {
-				log.Errorf("profiles are disabled, you cannot use this feature without profiles enabled")
-				return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errProfilesDisabled)
-			}
-
-			log.Infof("switching to profile %s for user '%s'", *msg.ProfileName, username)
-			if err := s.profileManager.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-				Name:     *msg.ProfileName,
-				Username: username,
-			}); err != nil {
-				log.Errorf("failed to set active profile state: %v", err)
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set active profile state: %w", err)
-			}
+		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
+			log.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %v", err)
+			return nil, err
 		}
 	}

@@ -568,7 +547,7 @@ func (s *Server) Login(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.LoginRequest) (*pro
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
 	}

-	log.Infof("active profile: %s for %s", activeProf.Name, activeProf.Username)
+	log.Infof("active profile: %s for %s", activeProf.ID, activeProf.Username)

 	s.mutex.Lock()

@@ -806,10 +785,10 @@ func (s *Server) Up(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.UpRequest) (*proto.UpR
 	}

 	if msg != nil && msg.ProfileName != nil {
-		if err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
+		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
 			s.mutex.Unlock()
 			log.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %v", err)
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %w", err)
+			return nil, err
 		}
 	}

@@ -820,7 +799,7 @@ func (s *Server) Up(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.UpRequest) (*proto.UpR
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
 	}

-	log.Infof("active profile: %s for %s", activeProf.Name, activeProf.Username)
+	log.Infof("active profile: %s for %s", activeProf.ID, activeProf.Username)

 	config, _, err := s.getConfig(activeProf)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -864,34 +843,60 @@ func (s *Server) waitForUp(callerCtx context.Context) (*proto.UpResponse, error)
 	}
 }

-func (s *Server) switchProfileIfNeeded(profileName string, userName *string, activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState) error {
-	if profileName != "default" && (userName == nil || *userName == "") {
-		log.Errorf("profile name is set to %s, but username is not provided", profileName)
-		return fmt.Errorf("profile name is set to %s, but username is not provided", profileName)
+// resolveProfileHandle resolves a wire-level profile handle (display
+// name, ID, or unique ID prefix) to a concrete profile. Returns gRPC
+// status errors so handlers can return them directly.
+func (s *Server) resolveProfileHandle(handle, username string) (*profilemanager.Profile, error) {
+	p, err := s.profileManager.ResolveProfile(handle, username)
+	if err == nil {
+		return p, nil
+	}
+	var amb *profilemanager.ErrAmbiguousHandle
+	if errors.As(err, &amb) {
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "%v", amb)
+	}
+	if errors.Is(err, profilemanager.ErrProfileNotFound) {
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.NotFound, "profile %q not found", handle)
+	}
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("resolve profile: %w", err)
+}
+
+// switchProfileIfNeeded resolves the user-supplied handle, updates the
+// active profile state if it differs from the current one, and returns
+// the resolved profile so callers can include its ID in RPC responses.
+func (s *Server) switchProfileIfNeeded(handle string, userName *string, activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState) (*profilemanager.Profile, error) {
+	if handle != profilemanager.DefaultProfileName && (userName == nil || *userName == "") {
+		log.Errorf("profile name is set to %s, but username is not provided", handle)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("profile name is set to %s, but username is not provided", handle)
 	}

 	var username string
-	if profileName != "default" {
+	if handle != profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
 		username = *userName
 	}

-	if profileName != activeProf.Name || username != activeProf.Username {
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(handle, username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if resolved.ID != activeProf.ID || username != activeProf.Username {
 		if s.checkProfilesDisabled() {
 			log.Errorf("profiles are disabled, you cannot use this feature without profiles enabled")
-			return gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errProfilesDisabled)
+			return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errProfilesDisabled)
 		}

-		log.Infof("switching to profile %s for user %s", profileName, username)
+		log.Infof("switching to profile %s (%s) for user %s", resolved.Name, resolved.ID, username)
 		if err := s.profileManager.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-			Name:     profileName,
+			ID:       resolved.ID,
 			Username: username,
 		}); err != nil {
 			log.Errorf("failed to set active profile state: %v", err)
-			return fmt.Errorf("failed to set active profile state: %w", err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to set active profile state: %w", err)
 		}
 	}

-	return nil
+	return resolved, nil
 }

 // SwitchProfile switches the active profile in the daemon.
@@ -906,9 +911,9 @@ func (s *Server) SwitchProfile(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SwitchProfi
 	}

 	if msg != nil && msg.ProfileName != nil {
-		if err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
+		if _, err := s.switchProfileIfNeeded(*msg.ProfileName, msg.Username, activeProf); err != nil {
 			log.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %v", err)
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to switch profile: %w", err)
+			return nil, err
 		}
 	}
 	activeProf, err = s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
@@ -924,7 +929,7 @@ func (s *Server) SwitchProfile(callerCtx context.Context, msg *proto.SwitchProfi

 	s.config = config

-	return &proto.SwitchProfileResponse{}, nil
+	return &proto.SwitchProfileResponse{Id: activeProf.ID.String()}, nil
 }

 // Down engine work in the daemon.
@@ -988,6 +993,10 @@ func (s *Server) cleanupConnection() error {
 		return nil
 	}

+	// TODO: consider calling s.connectClient.Stop() instead of engine.Stop().
+	// actCancel() lets the run loop stop the engine too, so both stop it
+	// concurrently; ConnectClient.Stop cancels and waits for the run loop,
+	// making the run loop the sole owner of engine shutdown.
 	if engine != nil {
 		if err := engine.Stop(); err != nil {
 			return err
@@ -1014,22 +1023,27 @@ func (s *Server) Logout(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.LogoutRequest) (*proto.L
 }

 func (s *Server) handleProfileLogout(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.LogoutRequest) (*proto.LogoutResponse, error) {
-	if err := s.validateProfileOperation(*msg.ProfileName, true); err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
 	if msg.Username == nil || *msg.Username == "" {
 		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "username must be provided when profile name is specified")
 	}
 	username := *msg.Username

-	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, *msg.ProfileName, username); err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to logout from profile %s: %v", *msg.ProfileName, err)
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(*msg.ProfileName, username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if err := s.validateProfileOperation(resolved.ID, true); err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, resolved); err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to logout from profile %s: %v", resolved.ID, err)
 		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Internal, "logout: %v", err)
 	}

 	activeProf, _ := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
-	if activeProf != nil && activeProf.Name == *msg.ProfileName {
+	if activeProf != nil && activeProf.ID == resolved.ID {
 		if err := s.cleanupConnection(); err != nil && !errors.Is(err, ErrServiceNotUp) {
 			log.Errorf("failed to cleanup connection: %v", err)
 		}
@@ -1091,30 +1105,30 @@ func (s *Server) getConfig(activeProf *profilemanager.ActiveProfileState) (*prof
 	return config, configExisted, nil
 }

-func (s *Server) canRemoveProfile(profileName string) error {
-	if profileName == profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
+func (s *Server) canRemoveProfile(id profilemanager.ID) error {
+	if id == profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
 		return fmt.Errorf("remove profile with reserved name: %s", profilemanager.DefaultProfileName)
 	}

 	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
-	if err == nil && activeProf.Name == profileName {
-		return fmt.Errorf("remove active profile: %s", profileName)
+	if err == nil && activeProf.ID == id {
+		return fmt.Errorf("remove active profile: %s", id)
 	}

 	return nil
 }

-func (s *Server) validateProfileOperation(profileName string, allowActiveProfile bool) error {
+func (s *Server) validateProfileOperation(id profilemanager.ID, allowActiveProfile bool) error {
 	if s.checkProfilesDisabled() {
 		return gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errProfilesDisabled)
 	}

-	if profileName == "" {
+	if id == "" {
 		return gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "profile name must be provided")
 	}

 	if !allowActiveProfile {
-		if err := s.canRemoveProfile(profileName); err != nil {
+		if err := s.canRemoveProfile(id); err != nil {
 			return gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "%v", err)
 		}
 	}
@@ -1122,25 +1136,20 @@ func (s *Server) validateProfileOperation(profileName string, allowActiveProfile
 	return nil
 }

-// logoutFromProfile logs out from a specific profile by loading its config and sending logout request
-func (s *Server) logoutFromProfile(ctx context.Context, profileName, username string) error {
+func (s *Server) logoutFromProfile(ctx context.Context, profile *profilemanager.Profile) error {
 	activeProf, err := s.profileManager.GetActiveProfileState()
-	if err == nil && activeProf.Name == profileName && s.connectClient != nil {
+	if err == nil && activeProf.ID == profile.ID && s.connectClient != nil {
 		return s.sendLogoutRequest(ctx)
 	}

-	profileState := &profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     profileName,
-		Username: username,
-	}
-	profilePath, err := profileState.FilePath()
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("get profile path: %w", err)
+	cfgPath := profile.Path
+	if cfgPath == "" {
+		cfgPath = profilemanager.DefaultConfigPath
 	}

-	config, err := profilemanager.GetConfig(profilePath)
+	config, err := profilemanager.GetConfig(cfgPath)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("profile '%s' not found", profileName)
+		return fmt.Errorf("profile '%s' not found", profile.ID)
 	}

 	return s.sendLogoutRequestWithConfig(ctx, config)
@@ -1558,15 +1567,14 @@ func (s *Server) GetConfig(ctx context.Context, req *proto.GetConfigRequest) (*p
 		return nil, ctx.Err()
 	}

-	prof := profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     req.ProfileName,
-		Username: req.Username,
-	}
-
-	cfgPath, err := prof.FilePath()
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(req.ProfileName, req.Username)
 	if err != nil {
-		log.Errorf("failed to get active profile file path: %v", err)
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile file path: %w", err)
+		log.Errorf("failed to resolve profile %q: %v", req.ProfileName, err)
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	cfgPath := resolved.Path
+	if cfgPath == "" {
+		cfgPath = profilemanager.DefaultConfigPath
 	}

 	cfg, err := profilemanager.GetConfig(cfgPath)
@@ -1671,12 +1679,39 @@ func (s *Server) AddProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.AddProfileRequest) (
 		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "profile name and username must be provided")
 	}

-	if err := s.profileManager.AddProfile(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username); err != nil {
+	created, err := s.profileManager.AddProfile(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username)
+	if err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to create profile: %v", err)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to create profile: %w", err)
 	}

-	return &proto.AddProfileResponse{}, nil
+	return &proto.AddProfileResponse{Id: created.ID.String()}, nil
+}
+
+func (s *Server) RenameProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.RenameProfileRequest) (*proto.RenameProfileResponse, error) {
+	s.mutex.Lock()
+	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
+
+	if s.checkProfilesDisabled() {
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errProfilesDisabled)
+	}
+
+	if msg.Handle == "" || msg.Username == "" || msg.NewProfileName == "" {
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "profile name, username and new profile name must be provided")
+	}
+
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(msg.Handle, msg.Username)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+
+	err = s.profileManager.RenameProfile(resolved.ID, msg.Username, msg.NewProfileName)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Errorf("failed to rename profile: %v", err)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to rename profile: %w", err)
+	}
+
+	return &proto.RenameProfileResponse{OldProfileName: resolved.Name}, nil
 }

 // RemoveProfile removes a profile from the daemon.
@@ -1684,20 +1719,29 @@ func (s *Server) RemoveProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.RemoveProfileRequ
 	s.mutex.Lock()
 	defer s.mutex.Unlock()

-	if err := s.validateProfileOperation(msg.ProfileName, false); err != nil {
+	if s.checkProfilesDisabled() {
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.Unavailable, errProfilesDisabled)
+	}
+
+	if msg.ProfileName == "" {
+		return nil, gstatus.Errorf(codes.InvalidArgument, "profile name must be provided")
+	}
+
+	resolved, err := s.resolveProfileHandle(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username)
+	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}

-	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, msg.ProfileName, msg.Username); err != nil {
-		log.Warnf("failed to logout from profile %s before removal: %v", msg.ProfileName, err)
+	if err := s.logoutFromProfile(ctx, resolved); err != nil {
+		log.Warnf("failed to logout from profile %s before removal: %v", resolved.ID, err)
 	}

-	if err := s.profileManager.RemoveProfile(msg.ProfileName, msg.Username); err != nil {
+	if err := s.profileManager.RemoveProfile(resolved.ID, msg.Username); err != nil {
 		log.Errorf("failed to remove profile: %v", err)
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to remove profile: %w", err)
 	}

-	return &proto.RemoveProfileResponse{}, nil
+	return &proto.RemoveProfileResponse{Id: resolved.ID.String()}, nil
 }

 // ListProfiles lists all profiles in the daemon.
@@ -1720,6 +1764,7 @@ func (s *Server) ListProfiles(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.ListProfilesReques
 	}
 	for i, profile := range profiles {
 		response.Profiles[i] = &proto.Profile{
+			Id:       profile.ID.String(),
 			Name:     profile.Name,
 			IsActive: profile.IsActive,
 		}
@@ -1728,7 +1773,9 @@ func (s *Server) ListProfiles(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.ListProfilesReques
 	return response, nil
 }

-// GetActiveProfile returns the active profile in the daemon.
+// GetActiveProfile returns the active profile in the daemon. The ProfileName
+// field carries the display name for backwards compatibility with UI clients,
+// new callers should prefer Id.
 func (s *Server) GetActiveProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.GetActiveProfileRequest) (*proto.GetActiveProfileResponse, error) {
 	s.mutex.Lock()
 	defer s.mutex.Unlock()
@@ -1739,9 +1786,23 @@ func (s *Server) GetActiveProfile(ctx context.Context, msg *proto.GetActiveProfi
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to get active profile state: %w", err)
 	}

+	// Fallback to legacy name == ID
+	displayName := activeProfile.ID.String()
+	if activeProfile.ID != profilemanager.DefaultProfileName {
+		if profiles, lerr := s.profileManager.ListProfiles(activeProfile.Username); lerr == nil {
+			for _, p := range profiles {
+				if p.ID == activeProfile.ID {
+					displayName = p.Name
+					break
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
 	return &proto.GetActiveProfileResponse{
-		ProfileName: activeProfile.Name,
+		ProfileName: displayName,
 		Username:    activeProfile.Username,
+		Id:          activeProfile.ID.String(),
 	}, nil
 }

--- a/client/server/server_privileged_test.go
+++ b/client/server/server_privileged_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,235 @@
+//go:build privileged
+
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net"
+	"os/user"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/integrations/integrated_validator/validator"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/controllers/network_map/controller"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/controllers/network_map/update_channel"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/peers"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/peers/ephemeral/manager"
+	nbgrpc "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/shared/grpc"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/job"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/server/config"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/groups"
+
+	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc"
+	"google.golang.org/grpc/keepalive"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/activity"
+	nbcache "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/cache"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/integrations/port_forwarding"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/permissions"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/settings"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/store"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/telemetry"
+	mgmtProto "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/proto"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/signal/proto"
+	signalServer "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/signal/server"
+)
+
+var (
+	kaep = keepalive.EnforcementPolicy{
+		MinTime:             15 * time.Second,
+		PermitWithoutStream: true,
+	}
+
+	kasp = keepalive.ServerParameters{
+		MaxConnectionIdle:     15 * time.Second,
+		MaxConnectionAgeGrace: 5 * time.Second,
+		Time:                  5 * time.Second,
+		Timeout:               2 * time.Second,
+	}
+)
+
+// TestConnectWithRetryRuns checks that the connectWithRetry function runs and runs the retries according to the times specified via environment variables
+// we will use a management server started via to simulate the server and capture the number of retries
+func TestConnectWithRetryRuns(t *testing.T) {
+	// start the signal server
+	_, signalAddr, err := startSignal(t)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to start signal server: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	counter := 0
+	// start the management server
+	_, mgmtAddr, err := startManagement(t, signalAddr, &counter)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to start management server: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	ctx := internal.CtxInitState(context.Background())
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithDeadline(ctx, time.Now().Add(30*time.Second))
+	defer cancel()
+	// create new server
+	ic := profilemanager.ConfigInput{
+		ManagementURL: "http://" + mgmtAddr,
+		ConfigPath:    t.TempDir() + "/test-profile.json",
+	}
+
+	config, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(ic)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to create config: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	currUser, err := user.Current()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	pm := profilemanager.ServiceManager{}
+	err = pm.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
+		ID:       "test-profile",
+		Username: currUser.Username,
+	})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("failed to set active profile state: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	s := New(ctx, "debug", "", false, false, false, false)
+
+	s.config = config
+
+	s.statusRecorder = peer.NewRecorder(config.ManagementURL.String())
+	t.Setenv(retryInitialIntervalVar, "1s")
+	t.Setenv(maxRetryIntervalVar, "2s")
+	t.Setenv(maxRetryTimeVar, "5s")
+	t.Setenv(retryMultiplierVar, "1")
+
+	s.connectWithRetryRuns(ctx, config, s.statusRecorder, nil, nil)
+	if counter < 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("expected counter > 2, got %d", counter)
+	}
+}
+
+type mockServer struct {
+	mgmtProto.ManagementServiceServer
+	counter *int
+}
+
+func (m *mockServer) Login(ctx context.Context, req *mgmtProto.EncryptedMessage) (*mgmtProto.EncryptedMessage, error) {
+	*m.counter++
+	return m.ManagementServiceServer.Login(ctx, req)
+}
+
+func startManagement(t *testing.T, signalAddr string, counter *int) (*grpc.Server, string, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+	dataDir := t.TempDir()
+
+	config := &config.Config{
+		Stuns:      []*config.Host{},
+		TURNConfig: &config.TURNConfig{},
+		Signal: &config.Host{
+			Proto: "http",
+			URI:   signalAddr,
+		},
+		Datadir:    dataDir,
+		HttpConfig: nil,
+	}
+
+	lis, err := net.Listen("tcp", "localhost:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	s := grpc.NewServer(grpc.KeepaliveEnforcementPolicy(kaep), grpc.KeepaliveParams(kasp))
+	store, cleanUp, err := store.NewTestStoreFromSQL(context.Background(), "", config.Datadir)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	t.Cleanup(cleanUp)
+
+	eventStore := &activity.InMemoryEventStore{}
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+
+	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
+	t.Cleanup(ctrl.Finish)
+
+	permissionsManagerMock := permissions.NewMockManager(ctrl)
+	peersManager := peers.NewManager(store, permissionsManagerMock)
+	settingsManagerMock := settings.NewMockManager(ctrl)
+
+	jobManager := job.NewJobManager(nil, store, peersManager)
+
+	cacheStore, err := nbcache.NewStore(context.Background(), 100*time.Millisecond, 300*time.Millisecond, 100)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+
+	ia, _ := validator.NewIntegratedValidator(context.Background(), peersManager, settingsManagerMock, eventStore, cacheStore)
+
+	metrics, err := telemetry.NewDefaultAppMetrics(context.Background())
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	settingsMockManager := settings.NewMockManager(ctrl)
+	groupsManager := groups.NewManagerMock()
+
+	requestBuffer := server.NewAccountRequestBuffer(context.Background(), store)
+	peersUpdateManager := update_channel.NewPeersUpdateManager(metrics)
+	networkMapController := controller.NewController(context.Background(), store, metrics, peersUpdateManager, requestBuffer, server.MockIntegratedValidator{}, settingsMockManager, "netbird.selfhosted", port_forwarding.NewControllerMock(), manager.NewEphemeralManager(store, peersManager), config)
+	accountManager, err := server.BuildManager(context.Background(), config, store, networkMapController, jobManager, nil, "", eventStore, nil, false, ia, metrics, port_forwarding.NewControllerMock(), settingsMockManager, permissionsManagerMock, false, cacheStore)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+
+	secretsManager, err := nbgrpc.NewTimeBasedAuthSecretsManager(peersUpdateManager, config.TURNConfig, config.Relay, settingsMockManager, groupsManager)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	mgmtServer, err := nbgrpc.NewServer(config, accountManager, settingsMockManager, jobManager, secretsManager, nil, nil, &server.MockIntegratedValidator{}, networkMapController, nil, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+	mock := &mockServer{
+		ManagementServiceServer: mgmtServer,
+		counter:                 counter,
+	}
+	mgmtProto.RegisterManagementServiceServer(s, mock)
+	go func() {
+		if err = s.Serve(lis); err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("failed to serve: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return s, lis.Addr().String(), nil
+}
+
+func startSignal(t *testing.T) (*grpc.Server, string, error) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	s := grpc.NewServer(grpc.KeepaliveEnforcementPolicy(kaep), grpc.KeepaliveParams(kasp))
+
+	lis, err := net.Listen("tcp", "localhost:0")
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, "", err
+	}
+
+	srv, err := signalServer.NewServer(context.Background(), otel.Meter(""))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	proto.RegisterSignalExchangeServer(s, srv)
+
+	go func() {
+		if err = s.Serve(lis); err != nil {
+			log.Fatalf("failed to serve: %v", err)
+		}
+	}()
+
+	return s, lis.Addr().String(), nil
+}
--- a/client/server/server_test.go
+++ b/client/server/server_test.go
@@ -2,124 +2,22 @@ package server

 import (
 	"context"
-	"net"
 	"net/url"
 	"os/user"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"testing"
 	"time"

-	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	"go.opentelemetry.io/otel"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/integrations/integrated_validator/validator"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/controllers/network_map/controller"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/controllers/network_map/update_channel"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/peers"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/modules/peers/ephemeral/manager"
-	nbgrpc "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/shared/grpc"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/job"
-
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/internals/server/config"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/groups"
-
 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"google.golang.org/grpc"
-	"google.golang.org/grpc/keepalive"

 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/peer"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/internal/profilemanager"
 	daemonProto "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/activity"
-	nbcache "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/cache"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/integrations/port_forwarding"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/permissions"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/settings"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/store"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/management/server/telemetry"
-	mgmtProto "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/management/proto"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/signal/proto"
-	signalServer "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/signal/server"
 )

-var (
-	kaep = keepalive.EnforcementPolicy{
-		MinTime:             15 * time.Second,
-		PermitWithoutStream: true,
-	}
-
-	kasp = keepalive.ServerParameters{
-		MaxConnectionIdle:     15 * time.Second,
-		MaxConnectionAgeGrace: 5 * time.Second,
-		Time:                  5 * time.Second,
-		Timeout:               2 * time.Second,
-	}
-)
-
-// TestConnectWithRetryRuns checks that the connectWithRetry function runs and runs the retries according to the times specified via environment variables
-// we will use a management server started via to simulate the server and capture the number of retries
-func TestConnectWithRetryRuns(t *testing.T) {
-	// start the signal server
-	_, signalAddr, err := startSignal(t)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to start signal server: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	counter := 0
-	// start the management server
-	_, mgmtAddr, err := startManagement(t, signalAddr, &counter)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to start management server: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	ctx := internal.CtxInitState(context.Background())
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithDeadline(ctx, time.Now().Add(30*time.Second))
-	defer cancel()
-	// create new server
-	ic := profilemanager.ConfigInput{
-		ManagementURL: "http://" + mgmtAddr,
-		ConfigPath:    t.TempDir() + "/test-profile.json",
-	}
-
-	config, err := profilemanager.UpdateOrCreateConfig(ic)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to create config: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	currUser, err := user.Current()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	pm := profilemanager.ServiceManager{}
-	err = pm.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     "test-profile",
-		Username: currUser.Username,
-	})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("failed to set active profile state: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	s := New(ctx, "debug", "", false, false, false, false)
-
-	s.config = config
-
-	s.statusRecorder = peer.NewRecorder(config.ManagementURL.String())
-	t.Setenv(retryInitialIntervalVar, "1s")
-	t.Setenv(maxRetryIntervalVar, "2s")
-	t.Setenv(maxRetryTimeVar, "5s")
-	t.Setenv(retryMultiplierVar, "1")
-
-	s.connectWithRetryRuns(ctx, config, s.statusRecorder, nil, nil)
-	if counter < 3 {
-		t.Fatalf("expected counter > 2, got %d", counter)
-	}
-}
-
 func TestServer_Up(t *testing.T) {
 	tempDir := t.TempDir()
 	origDefaultProfileDir := profilemanager.DefaultConfigPathDir
@@ -158,7 +56,7 @@ func TestServer_Up(t *testing.T) {

 	pm := profilemanager.ServiceManager{}
 	err = pm.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     profName,
+		ID:       profilemanager.ID(profName),
 		Username: currUser.Username,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -228,7 +126,7 @@ func TestServer_SubcribeEvents(t *testing.T) {

 	pm := profilemanager.ServiceManager{}
 	err = pm.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     "default",
+		ID:       "default",
 		Username: currUser.Username,
 	})
 	if err != nil {
@@ -259,119 +157,3 @@ func TestServer_SubcribeEvents(t *testing.T) {

 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 }
-
-type mockServer struct {
-	mgmtProto.ManagementServiceServer
-	counter *int
-}
-
-func (m *mockServer) Login(ctx context.Context, req *mgmtProto.EncryptedMessage) (*mgmtProto.EncryptedMessage, error) {
-	*m.counter++
-	return m.ManagementServiceServer.Login(ctx, req)
-}
-
-func startManagement(t *testing.T, signalAddr string, counter *int) (*grpc.Server, string, error) {
-	t.Helper()
-	dataDir := t.TempDir()
-
-	config := &config.Config{
-		Stuns:      []*config.Host{},
-		TURNConfig: &config.TURNConfig{},
-		Signal: &config.Host{
-			Proto: "http",
-			URI:   signalAddr,
-		},
-		Datadir:    dataDir,
-		HttpConfig: nil,
-	}
-
-	lis, err := net.Listen("tcp", "localhost:0")
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-	s := grpc.NewServer(grpc.KeepaliveEnforcementPolicy(kaep), grpc.KeepaliveParams(kasp))
-	store, cleanUp, err := store.NewTestStoreFromSQL(context.Background(), "", config.Datadir)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-	t.Cleanup(cleanUp)
-
-	eventStore := &activity.InMemoryEventStore{}
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-
-	ctrl := gomock.NewController(t)
-	t.Cleanup(ctrl.Finish)
-
-	permissionsManagerMock := permissions.NewMockManager(ctrl)
-	peersManager := peers.NewManager(store, permissionsManagerMock)
-	settingsManagerMock := settings.NewMockManager(ctrl)
-
-	jobManager := job.NewJobManager(nil, store, peersManager)
-
-	cacheStore, err := nbcache.NewStore(context.Background(), 100*time.Millisecond, 300*time.Millisecond, 100)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-
-	ia, _ := validator.NewIntegratedValidator(context.Background(), peersManager, settingsManagerMock, eventStore, cacheStore)
-
-	metrics, err := telemetry.NewDefaultAppMetrics(context.Background())
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	settingsMockManager := settings.NewMockManager(ctrl)
-	groupsManager := groups.NewManagerMock()
-
-	requestBuffer := server.NewAccountRequestBuffer(context.Background(), store)
-	peersUpdateManager := update_channel.NewPeersUpdateManager(metrics)
-	networkMapController := controller.NewController(context.Background(), store, metrics, peersUpdateManager, requestBuffer, server.MockIntegratedValidator{}, settingsMockManager, "netbird.selfhosted", port_forwarding.NewControllerMock(), manager.NewEphemeralManager(store, peersManager), config)
-	accountManager, err := server.BuildManager(context.Background(), config, store, networkMapController, jobManager, nil, "", eventStore, nil, false, ia, metrics, port_forwarding.NewControllerMock(), settingsMockManager, permissionsManagerMock, false, cacheStore)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-
-	secretsManager, err := nbgrpc.NewTimeBasedAuthSecretsManager(peersUpdateManager, config.TURNConfig, config.Relay, settingsMockManager, groupsManager)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-	mgmtServer, err := nbgrpc.NewServer(config, accountManager, settingsMockManager, jobManager, secretsManager, nil, nil, &server.MockIntegratedValidator{}, networkMapController, nil, nil)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, "", err
-	}
-	mock := &mockServer{
-		ManagementServiceServer: mgmtServer,
-		counter:                 counter,
-	}
-	mgmtProto.RegisterManagementServiceServer(s, mock)
-	go func() {
-		if err = s.Serve(lis); err != nil {
-			log.Fatalf("failed to serve: %v", err)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	return s, lis.Addr().String(), nil
-}
-
-func startSignal(t *testing.T) (*grpc.Server, string, error) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	s := grpc.NewServer(grpc.KeepaliveEnforcementPolicy(kaep), grpc.KeepaliveParams(kasp))
-
-	lis, err := net.Listen("tcp", "localhost:0")
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("failed to listen: %v", err)
-	}
-
-	srv, err := signalServer.NewServer(context.Background(), otel.Meter(""))
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	proto.RegisterSignalExchangeServer(s, srv)
-
-	go func() {
-		if err = s.Serve(lis); err != nil {
-			log.Fatalf("failed to serve: %v", err)
-		}
-	}()
-
-	return s, lis.Addr().String(), nil
-}
--- a/client/server/setconfig_mdm_test.go
+++ b/client/server/setconfig_mdm_test.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func setupServerWithProfile(t *testing.T) (s *Server, ctx context.Context, profN

 	pm := profilemanager.ServiceManager{}
 	require.NoError(t, pm.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     profName,
+		ID:       profilemanager.ID(profName),
 		Username: currUser.Username,
 	}))

@@ -107,9 +107,9 @@ func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_SingleField(t *testing.T) {

 func TestSetConfig_MDMReject_MultipleFields(t *testing.T) {
 	withMDMPolicy(t, mdm.NewPolicy(map[string]any{
-		mdm.KeyManagementURL:     "https://mdm.example.com:443",
-		mdm.KeyBlockInbound:      true,
-		mdm.KeyRosenpassEnabled:  true,
+		mdm.KeyManagementURL:    "https://mdm.example.com:443",
+		mdm.KeyBlockInbound:     true,
+		mdm.KeyRosenpassEnabled: true,
 	}))

 	s, ctx, profName, username, _ := setupServerWithProfile(t)
--- a/client/server/setconfig_test.go
+++ b/client/server/setconfig_test.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func TestSetConfig_AllFieldsSaved(t *testing.T) {

 	pm := profilemanager.ServiceManager{}
 	err = pm.SetActiveProfileState(&profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     profName,
+		ID:       profilemanager.ID(profName),
 		Username: currUser.Username,
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func TestSetConfig_AllFieldsSaved(t *testing.T) {
 		DisableNotifications:  &disableNotifications,
 		LazyConnectionEnabled: &lazyConnectionEnabled,
 		BlockInbound:          &blockInbound,
-		DisableIpv6:          &disableIPv6,
+		DisableIpv6:           &disableIPv6,
 		NatExternalIPs:        []string{"1.2.3.4", "5.6.7.8"},
 		CleanNATExternalIPs:   false,
 		CustomDNSAddress:      []byte("1.1.1.1:53"),
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func TestSetConfig_AllFieldsSaved(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)

 	profState := profilemanager.ActiveProfileState{
-		Name:     profName,
+		ID:       profilemanager.ID(profName),
 		Username: currUser.Username,
 	}
 	cfgPath, err := profState.FilePath()
--- a/client/ssh/client/client_privileged_test.go
+++ b/client/ssh/client/client_privileged_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,118 @@
+//go:build privileged
+
+package client
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"runtime"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	cryptossh "golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
+
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh/testutil"
+)
+
+func TestSSHClient_CommandExecution(t *testing.T) {
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" && testutil.IsCI() {
+		t.Skip("Skipping Windows command execution tests in CI due to S4U authentication issues")
+	}
+
+	server, _, client := setupTestSSHServerAndClient(t)
+	defer func() {
+		err := server.Stop()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	}()
+	defer func() {
+		err := client.Close()
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+	}()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 3*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	t.Run("ExecuteCommand captures output", func(t *testing.T) {
+		output, err := client.ExecuteCommand(ctx, "echo hello")
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Contains(t, string(output), "hello")
+	})
+
+	t.Run("ExecuteCommandWithIO streams output", func(t *testing.T) {
+		err := client.ExecuteCommandWithIO(ctx, "echo world")
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+	})
+
+	t.Run("commands with flags work", func(t *testing.T) {
+		output, err := client.ExecuteCommand(ctx, "echo -n test_flag")
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+		assert.Equal(t, "test_flag", strings.TrimSpace(string(output)))
+	})
+
+	t.Run("non-zero exit codes don't return errors", func(t *testing.T) {
+		var testCmd string
+		if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+			testCmd = "echo hello | Select-String notfound"
+		} else {
+			testCmd = "echo 'hello' | grep 'notfound'"
+		}
+		_, err := client.ExecuteCommand(ctx, testCmd)
+		assert.NoError(t, err)
+	})
+}
+
+func TestSSHClient_ContextCancellation(t *testing.T) {
+	server, serverAddr, _ := setupTestSSHServerAndClient(t)
+	defer func() {
+		err := server.Stop()
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+	}()
+
+	t.Run("connection with short timeout", func(t *testing.T) {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 1*time.Millisecond)
+		defer cancel()
+
+		currentUser := testutil.GetTestUsername(t)
+		_, err := Dial(ctx, serverAddr, currentUser, DialOptions{
+			InsecureSkipVerify: true,
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			// Check for actual timeout-related errors rather than string matching
+			assert.True(t,
+				errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) ||
+					errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) ||
+					strings.Contains(err.Error(), "timeout"),
+				"Expected timeout-related error, got: %v", err)
+		}
+	})
+
+	t.Run("command execution cancellation", func(t *testing.T) {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+		defer cancel()
+		currentUser := testutil.GetTestUsername(t)
+		client, err := Dial(ctx, serverAddr, currentUser, DialOptions{
+			InsecureSkipVerify: true,
+		})
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		defer func() {
+			if err := client.Close(); err != nil {
+				t.Logf("client close error: %v", err)
+			}
+		}()
+
+		cmdCtx, cmdCancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 100*time.Millisecond)
+		defer cmdCancel()
+
+		err = client.ExecuteCommandWithPTY(cmdCtx, "sleep 10")
+		if err != nil {
+			var exitMissingErr *cryptossh.ExitMissingError
+			isValidCancellation := errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) ||
+				errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) ||
+				errors.As(err, &exitMissingErr)
+			assert.True(t, isValidCancellation, "Should handle command cancellation properly")
+		}
+	})
+}
--- a/client/ssh/client/client_test.go
+++ b/client/ssh/client/client_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (

 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
-	cryptossh "golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"

 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh"
 	sshserver "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh/server"
@@ -78,53 +77,6 @@ func TestSSHClient_DialWithKey(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NotNil(t, client.client)
 }

-func TestSSHClient_CommandExecution(t *testing.T) {
-	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" && testutil.IsCI() {
-		t.Skip("Skipping Windows command execution tests in CI due to S4U authentication issues")
-	}
-
-	server, _, client := setupTestSSHServerAndClient(t)
-	defer func() {
-		err := server.Stop()
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-	}()
-	defer func() {
-		err := client.Close()
-		assert.NoError(t, err)
-	}()
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 3*time.Second)
-	defer cancel()
-
-	t.Run("ExecuteCommand captures output", func(t *testing.T) {
-		output, err := client.ExecuteCommand(ctx, "echo hello")
-		assert.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.Contains(t, string(output), "hello")
-	})
-
-	t.Run("ExecuteCommandWithIO streams output", func(t *testing.T) {
-		err := client.ExecuteCommandWithIO(ctx, "echo world")
-		assert.NoError(t, err)
-	})
-
-	t.Run("commands with flags work", func(t *testing.T) {
-		output, err := client.ExecuteCommand(ctx, "echo -n test_flag")
-		assert.NoError(t, err)
-		assert.Equal(t, "test_flag", strings.TrimSpace(string(output)))
-	})
-
-	t.Run("non-zero exit codes don't return errors", func(t *testing.T) {
-		var testCmd string
-		if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
-			testCmd = "echo hello | Select-String notfound"
-		} else {
-			testCmd = "echo 'hello' | grep 'notfound'"
-		}
-		_, err := client.ExecuteCommand(ctx, testCmd)
-		assert.NoError(t, err)
-	})
-}
-
 func TestSSHClient_ConnectionHandling(t *testing.T) {
 	server, serverAddr, _ := setupTestSSHServerAndClient(t)
 	defer func() {
@@ -154,59 +106,6 @@ func TestSSHClient_ConnectionHandling(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-func TestSSHClient_ContextCancellation(t *testing.T) {
-	server, serverAddr, _ := setupTestSSHServerAndClient(t)
-	defer func() {
-		err := server.Stop()
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-	}()
-
-	t.Run("connection with short timeout", func(t *testing.T) {
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 1*time.Millisecond)
-		defer cancel()
-
-		currentUser := testutil.GetTestUsername(t)
-		_, err := Dial(ctx, serverAddr, currentUser, DialOptions{
-			InsecureSkipVerify: true,
-		})
-		if err != nil {
-			// Check for actual timeout-related errors rather than string matching
-			assert.True(t,
-				errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) ||
-					errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) ||
-					strings.Contains(err.Error(), "timeout"),
-				"Expected timeout-related error, got: %v", err)
-		}
-	})
-
-	t.Run("command execution cancellation", func(t *testing.T) {
-		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
-		defer cancel()
-		currentUser := testutil.GetTestUsername(t)
-		client, err := Dial(ctx, serverAddr, currentUser, DialOptions{
-			InsecureSkipVerify: true,
-		})
-		require.NoError(t, err)
-		defer func() {
-			if err := client.Close(); err != nil {
-				t.Logf("client close error: %v", err)
-			}
-		}()
-
-		cmdCtx, cmdCancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 100*time.Millisecond)
-		defer cmdCancel()
-
-		err = client.ExecuteCommandWithPTY(cmdCtx, "sleep 10")
-		if err != nil {
-			var exitMissingErr *cryptossh.ExitMissingError
-			isValidCancellation := errors.Is(err, context.DeadlineExceeded) ||
-				errors.Is(err, context.Canceled) ||
-				errors.As(err, &exitMissingErr)
-			assert.True(t, isValidCancellation, "Should handle command cancellation properly")
-		}
-	})
-}
-
 func TestSSHClient_NoAuthMode(t *testing.T) {
 	hostKey, err := ssh.GeneratePrivateKey(ssh.ED25519)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
--- a/client/ssh/proxy/proxy_privileged_test.go
+++ b/client/ssh/proxy/proxy_privileged_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,423 @@
+//go:build privileged
+
+package proxy
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"context"
+	"crypto/rand"
+	"crypto/rsa"
+	"encoding/base64"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"io"
+	"math/big"
+	"net"
+	"net/http"
+	"net/http/httptest"
+	"os"
+	"runtime"
+	"strconv"
+	"testing"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+	cryptossh "golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
+
+	nbssh "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh"
+	sshauth "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh/auth"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh/server"
+	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh/testutil"
+	nbjwt "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/auth/jwt"
+	sshuserhash "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/sshauth"
+)
+
+func (m *mockDaemon) setJWTToken(token string) {
+	m.impl.jwtToken = token
+}
+
+func TestSSHProxy_Connect(t *testing.T) {
+	if testing.Short() {
+		t.Skip("Skipping integration test in short mode")
+	}
+
+	// TODO: Windows test times out - user switching and command execution tested on Linux
+	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
+		t.Skip("Skipping on Windows - covered by Linux tests")
+	}
+
+	const (
+		issuer   = "https://test-issuer.example.com"
+		audience = "test-audience"
+	)
+
+	jwksServer, privateKey, jwksURL := setupJWKSServer(t)
+	defer jwksServer.Close()
+
+	hostKey, err := nbssh.GeneratePrivateKey(nbssh.ED25519)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	hostPubKey, err := nbssh.GeneratePublicKey(hostKey)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	serverConfig := &server.Config{
+		HostKeyPEM: hostKey,
+		JWT: &server.JWTConfig{
+			Issuer:       issuer,
+			Audiences:    []string{audience},
+			KeysLocation: jwksURL,
+		},
+	}
+	sshServer := server.New(serverConfig)
+	sshServer.SetAllowRootLogin(true)
+
+	// Configure SSH authorization for the test user
+	testUsername := testutil.GetTestUsername(t)
+	testJWTUser := "test-username"
+	testUserHash, err := sshuserhash.HashUserID(testJWTUser)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	authConfig := &sshauth.Config{
+		UserIDClaim:     sshauth.DefaultUserIDClaim,
+		AuthorizedUsers: []sshuserhash.UserIDHash{testUserHash},
+		MachineUsers: map[string][]uint32{
+			testUsername: {0}, // Index 0 in AuthorizedUsers
+		},
+	}
+	sshServer.UpdateSSHAuth(authConfig)
+
+	sshServerAddr := server.StartTestServer(t, sshServer)
+	defer func() { _ = sshServer.Stop() }()
+
+	mockDaemon := startMockDaemon(t)
+	defer mockDaemon.stop()
+
+	host, portStr, err := net.SplitHostPort(sshServerAddr)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	port, err := strconv.Atoi(portStr)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	mockDaemon.setHostKey(host, hostPubKey)
+
+	validToken := generateValidJWT(t, privateKey, issuer, audience, testJWTUser)
+	mockDaemon.setJWTToken(validToken)
+
+	proxyInstance, err := New(mockDaemon.addr, host, port, io.Discard, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	clientConn, proxyConn := net.Pipe()
+	defer func() { _ = clientConn.Close() }()
+
+	origStdin := os.Stdin
+	origStdout := os.Stdout
+	defer func() {
+		os.Stdin = origStdin
+		os.Stdout = origStdout
+	}()
+
+	stdinReader, stdinWriter, err := os.Pipe()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	stdoutReader, stdoutWriter, err := os.Pipe()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	os.Stdin = stdinReader
+	os.Stdout = stdoutWriter
+
+	go func() {
+		_, _ = io.Copy(stdinWriter, proxyConn)
+	}()
+	go func() {
+		_, _ = io.Copy(proxyConn, stdoutReader)
+	}()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+	defer cancel()
+
+	connectErrCh := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		connectErrCh <- proxyInstance.Connect(ctx)
+	}()
+
+	sshConfig := &cryptossh.ClientConfig{
+		User:            testutil.GetTestUsername(t),
+		Auth:            []cryptossh.AuthMethod{},
+		HostKeyCallback: cryptossh.InsecureIgnoreHostKey(),
+		Timeout:         3 * time.Second,
+	}
+
+	sshClientConn, chans, reqs, err := cryptossh.NewClientConn(clientConn, "test", sshConfig)
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Should connect to proxy server")
+	defer func() { _ = sshClientConn.Close() }()
+
+	sshClient := cryptossh.NewClient(sshClientConn, chans, reqs)
+
+	session, err := sshClient.NewSession()
+	require.NoError(t, err, "Should create session through full proxy to backend")
+
+	outputCh := make(chan []byte, 1)
+	errCh := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		output, err := session.Output("echo hello-from-proxy")
+		outputCh <- output
+		errCh <- err
+	}()
+
+	select {
+	case output := <-outputCh:
+		err := <-errCh
+		require.NoError(t, err, "Command should execute successfully through proxy")
+		assert.Contains(t, string(output), "hello-from-proxy", "Should receive command output through proxy")
+	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("Command execution timed out")
+	}
+
+	_ = session.Close()
+	_ = sshClient.Close()
+	_ = clientConn.Close()
+	cancel()
+}
+
+// TestSSHProxy_CommandQuoting verifies that the proxy preserves shell quoting
+// when forwarding commands to the backend. This is critical for tools like
+// Ansible that send commands such as:
+//
+//	/bin/sh -c '( umask 77 && mkdir -p ... ) && sleep 0'
+//
+// The single quotes must be preserved so the backend shell receives the
+// subshell expression as a single argument to -c.
+func TestSSHProxy_CommandQuoting(t *testing.T) {
+	if testing.Short() {
+		t.Skip("Skipping integration test in short mode")
+	}
+
+	sshClient, cleanup := setupProxySSHClient(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+
+	// These commands simulate what the SSH protocol delivers as exec payloads.
+	// When a user types: ssh host '/bin/sh -c "( echo hello )"'
+	// the local shell strips the outer single quotes, and the SSH exec request
+	// contains the raw string: /bin/sh -c "( echo hello )"
+	//
+	// The proxy must forward this string verbatim. Using session.Command()
+	// (shlex.Split + strings.Join) strips the inner double quotes, breaking
+	// the command on the backend.
+	tests := []struct {
+		name    string
+		command string
+		expect  string
+	}{
+		{
+			name:    "subshell_in_double_quotes",
+			command: `/bin/sh -c "( echo from-subshell ) && echo outer"`,
+			expect:  "from-subshell\nouter\n",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "printf_with_special_chars",
+			command: `/bin/sh -c "printf '%s\n' 'hello world'"`,
+			expect:  "hello world\n",
+		},
+		{
+			name:    "nested_command_substitution",
+			command: `/bin/sh -c "echo $(echo nested)"`,
+			expect:  "nested\n",
+		},
+	}
+
+	for _, tc := range tests {
+		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			session, err := sshClient.NewSession()
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			defer func() { _ = session.Close() }()
+
+			var stderrBuf bytes.Buffer
+			session.Stderr = &stderrBuf
+
+			outputCh := make(chan []byte, 1)
+			errCh := make(chan error, 1)
+			go func() {
+				output, err := session.Output(tc.command)
+				outputCh <- output
+				errCh <- err
+			}()
+
+			select {
+			case output := <-outputCh:
+				err := <-errCh
+				if stderrBuf.Len() > 0 {
+					t.Logf("stderr: %s", stderrBuf.String())
+				}
+				require.NoError(t, err, "command should succeed: %s", tc.command)
+				assert.Equal(t, tc.expect, string(output), "output mismatch for: %s", tc.command)
+			case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+				t.Fatalf("command timed out: %s", tc.command)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+// setupProxySSHClient creates a full proxy test environment and returns
+// an SSH client connected through the proxy to a backend NetBird SSH server.
+func setupProxySSHClient(t *testing.T) (*cryptossh.Client, func()) {
+	t.Helper()
+
+	const (
+		issuer   = "https://test-issuer.example.com"
+		audience = "test-audience"
+	)
+
+	jwksServer, privateKey, jwksURL := setupJWKSServer(t)
+
+	hostKey, err := nbssh.GeneratePrivateKey(nbssh.ED25519)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	hostPubKey, err := nbssh.GeneratePublicKey(hostKey)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	serverConfig := &server.Config{
+		HostKeyPEM: hostKey,
+		JWT: &server.JWTConfig{
+			Issuer:       issuer,
+			Audiences:    []string{audience},
+			KeysLocation: jwksURL,
+		},
+	}
+	sshServer := server.New(serverConfig)
+	sshServer.SetAllowRootLogin(true)
+
+	testUsername := testutil.GetTestUsername(t)
+	testJWTUser := "test-username"
+	testUserHash, err := sshuserhash.HashUserID(testJWTUser)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	authConfig := &sshauth.Config{
+		UserIDClaim:     sshauth.DefaultUserIDClaim,
+		AuthorizedUsers: []sshuserhash.UserIDHash{testUserHash},
+		MachineUsers: map[string][]uint32{
+			testUsername: {0},
+		},
+	}
+	sshServer.UpdateSSHAuth(authConfig)
+
+	sshServerAddr := server.StartTestServer(t, sshServer)
+
+	mockDaemon := startMockDaemon(t)
+
+	host, portStr, err := net.SplitHostPort(sshServerAddr)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	port, err := strconv.Atoi(portStr)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	mockDaemon.setHostKey(host, hostPubKey)
+
+	validToken := generateValidJWT(t, privateKey, issuer, audience, testJWTUser)
+	mockDaemon.setJWTToken(validToken)
+
+	proxyInstance, err := New(mockDaemon.addr, host, port, io.Discard, nil)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	origStdin := os.Stdin
+	origStdout := os.Stdout
+
+	stdinReader, stdinWriter, err := os.Pipe()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	stdoutReader, stdoutWriter, err := os.Pipe()
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	os.Stdin = stdinReader
+	os.Stdout = stdoutWriter
+
+	clientConn, proxyConn := net.Pipe()
+
+	go func() { _, _ = io.Copy(stdinWriter, proxyConn) }()
+	go func() { _, _ = io.Copy(proxyConn, stdoutReader) }()
+
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
+
+	go func() {
+		_ = proxyInstance.Connect(ctx)
+	}()
+
+	sshConfig := &cryptossh.ClientConfig{
+		User:            testutil.GetTestUsername(t),
+		Auth:            []cryptossh.AuthMethod{},
+		HostKeyCallback: cryptossh.InsecureIgnoreHostKey(),
+		Timeout:         5 * time.Second,
+	}
+
+	sshClientConn, chans, reqs, err := cryptossh.NewClientConn(clientConn, "test", sshConfig)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	client := cryptossh.NewClient(sshClientConn, chans, reqs)
+
+	cleanupFn := func() {
+		_ = client.Close()
+		_ = clientConn.Close()
+		cancel()
+		os.Stdin = origStdin
+		os.Stdout = origStdout
+		_ = sshServer.Stop()
+		mockDaemon.stop()
+		jwksServer.Close()
+	}
+
+	return client, cleanupFn
+}
+
+func setupJWKSServer(t *testing.T) (*httptest.Server, *rsa.PrivateKey, string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	privateKey, jwksJSON := generateTestJWKS(t)
+
+	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
+		if _, err := w.Write(jwksJSON); err != nil {
+			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
+		}
+	}))
+
+	return server, privateKey, server.URL
+}
+
+func generateTestJWKS(t *testing.T) (*rsa.PrivateKey, []byte) {
+	t.Helper()
+	privateKey, err := rsa.GenerateKey(rand.Reader, 2048)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	publicKey := &privateKey.PublicKey
+	n := publicKey.N.Bytes()
+	e := publicKey.E
+
+	jwk := nbjwt.JSONWebKey{
+		Kty: "RSA",
+		Kid: "test-key-id",
+		Use: "sig",
+		N:   base64.RawURLEncoding.EncodeToString(n),
+		E:   base64.RawURLEncoding.EncodeToString(big.NewInt(int64(e)).Bytes()),
+	}
+
+	jwks := nbjwt.Jwks{
+		Keys: []nbjwt.JSONWebKey{jwk},
+	}
+
+	jwksJSON, err := json.Marshal(jwks)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	return privateKey, jwksJSON
+}
+
+func generateValidJWT(t *testing.T, privateKey *rsa.PrivateKey, issuer, audience string, user string) string {
+	t.Helper()
+	claims := jwt.MapClaims{
+		"iss": issuer,
+		"aud": audience,
+		"sub": user,
+		"exp": time.Now().Add(time.Hour).Unix(),
+		"iat": time.Now().Unix(),
+	}
+
+	token := jwt.NewWithClaims(jwt.SigningMethodRS256, claims)
+	token.Header["kid"] = "test-key-id"
+
+	tokenString, err := token.SignedString(privateKey)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	return tokenString
+}
--- a/client/ssh/proxy/proxy_test.go
+++ b/client/ssh/proxy/proxy_test.go
@@ -1,25 +1,12 @@
 package proxy

 import (
-	"bytes"
 	"context"
-	"crypto/rand"
-	"crypto/rsa"
-	"encoding/base64"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"io"
-	"math/big"
 	"net"
-	"net/http"
-	"net/http/httptest"
 	"os"
-	"runtime"
-	"strconv"
 	"testing"
-	"time"

-	"github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v5"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	cryptossh "golang.org/x/crypto/ssh"
@@ -28,11 +15,7 @@ import (

 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/proto"
 	nbssh "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh"
-	sshauth "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh/auth"
-	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh/server"
 	"github.com/netbirdio/netbird/client/ssh/testutil"
-	nbjwt "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/auth/jwt"
-	sshuserhash "github.com/netbirdio/netbird/shared/sshauth"
 )

 func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
@@ -106,331 +89,6 @@ func TestSSHProxy_verifyHostKey(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }

-func TestSSHProxy_Connect(t *testing.T) {
-	if testing.Short() {
-		t.Skip("Skipping integration test in short mode")
-	}
-
-	// TODO: Windows test times out - user switching and command execution tested on Linux
-	if runtime.GOOS == "windows" {
-		t.Skip("Skipping on Windows - covered by Linux tests")
-	}
-
-	const (
-		issuer   = "https://test-issuer.example.com"
-		audience = "test-audience"
-	)
-
-	jwksServer, privateKey, jwksURL := setupJWKSServer(t)
-	defer jwksServer.Close()
-
-	hostKey, err := nbssh.GeneratePrivateKey(nbssh.ED25519)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	hostPubKey, err := nbssh.GeneratePublicKey(hostKey)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	serverConfig := &server.Config{
-		HostKeyPEM: hostKey,
-		JWT: &server.JWTConfig{
-			Issuer:       issuer,
-			Audiences:    []string{audience},
-			KeysLocation: jwksURL,
-		},
-	}
-	sshServer := server.New(serverConfig)
-	sshServer.SetAllowRootLogin(true)
-
-	// Configure SSH authorization for the test user
-	testUsername := testutil.GetTestUsername(t)
-	testJWTUser := "test-username"
-	testUserHash, err := sshuserhash.HashUserID(testJWTUser)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	authConfig := &sshauth.Config{
-		UserIDClaim:     sshauth.DefaultUserIDClaim,
-		AuthorizedUsers: []sshuserhash.UserIDHash{testUserHash},
-		MachineUsers: map[string][]uint32{
-			testUsername: {0}, // Index 0 in AuthorizedUsers
-		},
-	}
-	sshServer.UpdateSSHAuth(authConfig)
-
-	sshServerAddr := server.StartTestServer(t, sshServer)
-	defer func() { _ = sshServer.Stop() }()
-
-	mockDaemon := startMockDaemon(t)
-	defer mockDaemon.stop()
-
-	host, portStr, err := net.SplitHostPort(sshServerAddr)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	port, err := strconv.Atoi(portStr)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	mockDaemon.setHostKey(host, hostPubKey)
-
-	validToken := generateValidJWT(t, privateKey, issuer, audience, testJWTUser)
-	mockDaemon.setJWTToken(validToken)
-
-	proxyInstance, err := New(mockDaemon.addr, host, port, io.Discard, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	clientConn, proxyConn := net.Pipe()
-	defer func() { _ = clientConn.Close() }()
-
-	origStdin := os.Stdin
-	origStdout := os.Stdout
-	defer func() {
-		os.Stdin = origStdin
-		os.Stdout = origStdout
-	}()
-
-	stdinReader, stdinWriter, err := os.Pipe()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	stdoutReader, stdoutWriter, err := os.Pipe()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	os.Stdin = stdinReader
-	os.Stdout = stdoutWriter
-
-	go func() {
-		_, _ = io.Copy(stdinWriter, proxyConn)
-	}()
-	go func() {
-		_, _ = io.Copy(proxyConn, stdoutReader)
-	}()
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
-	defer cancel()
-
-	connectErrCh := make(chan error, 1)
-	go func() {
-		connectErrCh <- proxyInstance.Connect(ctx)
-	}()
-
-	sshConfig := &cryptossh.ClientConfig{
-		User:            testutil.GetTestUsername(t),
-		Auth:            []cryptossh.AuthMethod{},
-		HostKeyCallback: cryptossh.InsecureIgnoreHostKey(),
-		Timeout:         3 * time.Second,
-	}
-
-	sshClientConn, chans, reqs, err := cryptossh.NewClientConn(clientConn, "test", sshConfig)
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Should connect to proxy server")
-	defer func() { _ = sshClientConn.Close() }()
-
-	sshClient := cryptossh.NewClient(sshClientConn, chans, reqs)
-
-	session, err := sshClient.NewSession()
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Should create session through full proxy to backend")
-
-	outputCh := make(chan []byte, 1)
-	errCh := make(chan error, 1)
-	go func() {
-		output, err := session.Output("echo hello-from-proxy")
-		outputCh <- output
-		errCh <- err
-	}()
-
-	select {
-	case output := <-outputCh:
-		err := <-errCh
-		require.NoError(t, err, "Command should execute successfully through proxy")
-		assert.Contains(t, string(output), "hello-from-proxy", "Should receive command output through proxy")
-	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
-		t.Fatal("Command execution timed out")
-	}
-
-	_ = session.Close()
-	_ = sshClient.Close()
-	_ = clientConn.Close()
-	cancel()
-}
-
-// TestSSHProxy_CommandQuoting verifies that the proxy preserves shell quoting
-// when forwarding commands to the backend. This is critical for tools like
-// Ansible that send commands such as:
-//
-//	/bin/sh -c '( umask 77 && mkdir -p ... ) && sleep 0'
-//
-// The single quotes must be preserved so the backend shell receives the
-// subshell expression as a single argument to -c.
-func TestSSHProxy_CommandQuoting(t *testing.T) {
-	if testing.Short() {
-		t.Skip("Skipping integration test in short mode")
-	}
-
-	sshClient, cleanup := setupProxySSHClient(t)
-	defer cleanup()
-
-	// These commands simulate what the SSH protocol delivers as exec payloads.
-	// When a user types: ssh host '/bin/sh -c "( echo hello )"'
-	// the local shell strips the outer single quotes, and the SSH exec request
-	// contains the raw string: /bin/sh -c "( echo hello )"
-	//
-	// The proxy must forward this string verbatim. Using session.Command()
-	// (shlex.Split + strings.Join) strips the inner double quotes, breaking
-	// the command on the backend.
-	tests := []struct {
-		name    string
-		command string
-		expect  string
-	}{
-		{
-			name:    "subshell_in_double_quotes",
-			command: `/bin/sh -c "( echo from-subshell ) && echo outer"`,
-			expect:  "from-subshell\nouter\n",
-		},
-		{
-			name:    "printf_with_special_chars",
-			command: `/bin/sh -c "printf '%s\n' 'hello world'"`,
-			expect:  "hello world\n",
-		},
-		{
-			name:    "nested_command_substitution",
-			command: `/bin/sh -c "echo $(echo nested)"`,
-			expect:  "nested\n",
-		},
-	}
-
-	for _, tc := range tests {
-		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			session, err := sshClient.NewSession()
-			require.NoError(t, err)
-			defer func() { _ = session.Close() }()
-
-			var stderrBuf bytes.Buffer
-			session.Stderr = &stderrBuf
-
-			outputCh := make(chan []byte, 1)
-			errCh := make(chan error, 1)
-			go func() {
-				output, err := session.Output(tc.command)
-				outputCh <- output
-				errCh <- err
-			}()
-
-			select {
-			case output := <-outputCh:
-				err := <-errCh
-				if stderrBuf.Len() > 0 {
-					t.Logf("stderr: %s", stderrBuf.String())
-				}
-				require.NoError(t, err, "command should succeed: %s", tc.command)
-				assert.Equal(t, tc.expect, string(output), "output mismatch for: %s", tc.command)
-			case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
-				t.Fatalf("command timed out: %s", tc.command)
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-// setupProxySSHClient creates a full proxy test environment and returns
-// an SSH client connected through the proxy to a backend NetBird SSH server.
-func setupProxySSHClient(t *testing.T) (*cryptossh.Client, func()) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	const (
-		issuer   = "https://test-issuer.example.com"
-		audience = "test-audience"
-	)
-
-	jwksServer, privateKey, jwksURL := setupJWKSServer(t)
-
-	hostKey, err := nbssh.GeneratePrivateKey(nbssh.ED25519)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	hostPubKey, err := nbssh.GeneratePublicKey(hostKey)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	serverConfig := &server.Config{
-		HostKeyPEM: hostKey,
-		JWT: &server.JWTConfig{
-			Issuer:       issuer,
-			Audiences:    []string{audience},
-			KeysLocation: jwksURL,
-		},
-	}
-	sshServer := server.New(serverConfig)
-	sshServer.SetAllowRootLogin(true)
-
-	testUsername := testutil.GetTestUsername(t)
-	testJWTUser := "test-username"
-	testUserHash, err := sshuserhash.HashUserID(testJWTUser)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	authConfig := &sshauth.Config{
-		UserIDClaim:     sshauth.DefaultUserIDClaim,
-		AuthorizedUsers: []sshuserhash.UserIDHash{testUserHash},
-		MachineUsers: map[string][]uint32{
-			testUsername: {0},
-		},
-	}
-	sshServer.UpdateSSHAuth(authConfig)
-
-	sshServerAddr := server.StartTestServer(t, sshServer)
-
-	mockDaemon := startMockDaemon(t)
-
-	host, portStr, err := net.SplitHostPort(sshServerAddr)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	port, err := strconv.Atoi(portStr)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	mockDaemon.setHostKey(host, hostPubKey)
-
-	validToken := generateValidJWT(t, privateKey, issuer, audience, testJWTUser)
-	mockDaemon.setJWTToken(validToken)
-
-	proxyInstance, err := New(mockDaemon.addr, host, port, io.Discard, nil)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	origStdin := os.Stdin
-	origStdout := os.Stdout
-
-	stdinReader, stdinWriter, err := os.Pipe()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	stdoutReader, stdoutWriter, err := os.Pipe()
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	os.Stdin = stdinReader
-	os.Stdout = stdoutWriter
-
-	clientConn, proxyConn := net.Pipe()
-
-	go func() { _, _ = io.Copy(stdinWriter, proxyConn) }()
-	go func() { _, _ = io.Copy(proxyConn, stdoutReader) }()
-
-	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 10*time.Second)
-
-	go func() {
-		_ = proxyInstance.Connect(ctx)
-	}()
-
-	sshConfig := &cryptossh.ClientConfig{
-		User:            testutil.GetTestUsername(t),
-		Auth:            []cryptossh.AuthMethod{},
-		HostKeyCallback: cryptossh.InsecureIgnoreHostKey(),
-		Timeout:         5 * time.Second,
-	}
-
-	sshClientConn, chans, reqs, err := cryptossh.NewClientConn(clientConn, "test", sshConfig)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	client := cryptossh.NewClient(sshClientConn, chans, reqs)
-
-	cleanupFn := func() {
-		_ = client.Close()
-		_ = clientConn.Close()
-		cancel()
-		os.Stdin = origStdin
-		os.Stdout = origStdout
-		_ = sshServer.Stop()
-		mockDaemon.stop()
-		jwksServer.Close()
-	}
-
-	return client, cleanupFn
-}
-
 type mockDaemonServer struct {
 	proto.UnimplementedDaemonServiceServer
 	hostKeys map[string][]byte
@@ -492,10 +150,6 @@ func (m *mockDaemon) setHostKey(addr string, pubKey []byte) {
 	m.impl.hostKeys[addr] = pubKey
 }

-func (m *mockDaemon) setJWTToken(token string) {
-	m.impl.jwtToken = token
-}
-
 func (m *mockDaemon) stop() {
 	if m.server != nil {
 		m.server.Stop()
@@ -508,63 +162,3 @@ func mustParsePublicKey(t *testing.T, pubKeyBytes []byte) cryptossh.PublicKey {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	return pubKey
 }
-
-func setupJWKSServer(t *testing.T) (*httptest.Server, *rsa.PrivateKey, string) {
-	t.Helper()
-	privateKey, jwksJSON := generateTestJWKS(t)
-
-	server := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
-		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
-		if _, err := w.Write(jwksJSON); err != nil {
-			http.Error(w, err.Error(), http.StatusInternalServerError)
-		}
-	}))
-
-	return server, privateKey, server.URL
-}
-
-func generateTestJWKS(t *testing.T) (*rsa.PrivateKey, []byte) {
-	t.Helper()
-	privateKey, err := rsa.GenerateKey(rand.Reader, 2048)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	publicKey := &privateKey.PublicKey
-	n := publicKey.N.Bytes()
-	e := publicKey.E
-
-	jwk := nbjwt.JSONWebKey{
-		Kty: "RSA",
-		Kid: "test-key-id",
-		Use: "sig",
-		N:   base64.RawURLEncoding.EncodeToString(n),
-		E:   base64.RawURLEncoding.EncodeToString(big.NewInt(int64(e)).Bytes()),
-	}
-
-	jwks := nbjwt.Jwks{
-		Keys: []nbjwt.JSONWebKey{jwk},
-	}
-
-	jwksJSON, err := json.Marshal(jwks)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	return privateKey, jwksJSON
-}
-
-func generateValidJWT(t *testing.T, privateKey *rsa.PrivateKey, issuer, audience string, user string) string {
-	t.Helper()
-	claims := jwt.MapClaims{
-		"iss": issuer,
-		"aud": audience,
-		"sub": user,
-		"exp": time.Now().Add(time.Hour).Unix(),
-		"iat": time.Now().Unix(),
-	}
-
-	token := jwt.NewWithClaims(jwt.SigningMethodRS256, claims)
-	token.Header["kid"] = "test-key-id"
-
-	tokenString, err := token.SignedString(privateKey)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-
-	return tokenString
-}
--- a/client/ssh/server/executor_unix_privileged_test.go
+++ b/client/ssh/server/executor_unix_privileged_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+//go:build unix && privileged
+
+package server
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
+)
+
+func TestPrivilegeDropper_CreateExecutorCommand(t *testing.T) {
+	pd := NewPrivilegeDropper()
+
+	config := ExecutorConfig{
+		UID:        1000,
+		GID:        1000,
+		Groups:     []uint32{1000, 1001},
+		WorkingDir: "/home/testuser",
+		Shell:      "/bin/bash",
+		Command:    "ls -la",
+	}
+
+	cmd, err := pd.CreateExecutorCommand(context.Background(), config)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cmd)
+
+	// Verify the command is calling netbird ssh exec
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "ssh")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "exec")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--uid")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "1000")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--gid")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "1000")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--groups")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "1000")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "1001")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--working-dir")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "/home/testuser")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--shell")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "/bin/bash")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--cmd")
+	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "ls -la")
+}
+
+func TestPrivilegeDropper_CreateExecutorCommandInteractive(t *testing.T) {
+	pd := NewPrivilegeDropper()
+
+	config := ExecutorConfig{
+		UID:        1000,
+		GID:        1000,
+		Groups:     []uint32{1000},
+		WorkingDir: "/home/testuser",
+		Shell:      "/bin/bash",
+		Command:    "",
+	}
+
+	cmd, err := pd.CreateExecutorCommand(context.Background(), config)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NotNil(t, cmd)
+
+	// Verify no command mode (command is empty so no --cmd flag)
+	assert.NotContains(t, cmd.Args, "--cmd")
+	assert.NotContains(t, cmd.Args, "--interactive")
+}
--- a/client/ssh/server/executor_unix_test.go
+++ b/client/ssh/server/executor_unix_test.go
@@ -73,61 +73,6 @@ func TestPrivilegeDropper_ValidatePrivileges(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }

-func TestPrivilegeDropper_CreateExecutorCommand(t *testing.T) {
-	pd := NewPrivilegeDropper()
-
-	config := ExecutorConfig{
-		UID:        1000,
-		GID:        1000,
-		Groups:     []uint32{1000, 1001},
-		WorkingDir: "/home/testuser",
-		Shell:      "/bin/bash",
-		Command:    "ls -la",
-	}
-
-	cmd, err := pd.CreateExecutorCommand(context.Background(), config)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NotNil(t, cmd)
-
-	// Verify the command is calling netbird ssh exec
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "ssh")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "exec")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--uid")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "1000")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--gid")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "1000")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--groups")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "1000")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "1001")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--working-dir")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "/home/testuser")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--shell")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "/bin/bash")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "--cmd")
-	assert.Contains(t, cmd.Args, "ls -la")
-}
-
-func TestPrivilegeDropper_CreateExecutorCommandInteractive(t *testing.T) {
-	pd := NewPrivilegeDropper()
-
-	config := ExecutorConfig{
-		UID:        1000,
-		GID:        1000,
-		Groups:     []uint32{1000},
-		WorkingDir: "/home/testuser",
-		Shell:      "/bin/bash",
-		Command:    "",
-	}
-
-	cmd, err := pd.CreateExecutorCommand(context.Background(), config)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.NotNil(t, cmd)
-
-	// Verify no command mode (command is empty so no --cmd flag)
-	assert.NotContains(t, cmd.Args, "--cmd")
-	assert.NotContains(t, cmd.Args, "--interactive")
-}
-
 // TestPrivilegeDropper_ActualPrivilegeDrop tests actual privilege dropping
 // This test requires root privileges and will be skipped if not running as root
 func TestPrivilegeDropper_ActualPrivilegeDrop(t *testing.T) {
--- a/client/system/info.go
+++ b/client/system/info.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package system
 import (
 	"context"
 	"net/netip"
+	"slices"
 	"strings"

 	log "github.com/sirupsen/logrus"
@@ -121,6 +122,23 @@ func (i *Info) SetFlags(
 	}
 }

+// removeAddresses drops network addresses whose IP matches any of the given
+// addresses, regardless of prefix length. Used to exclude the NetBird overlay
+// address, which otherwise churns the meta as the interface comes and goes.
+func (i *Info) removeAddresses(ips ...netip.Addr) {
+	if len(ips) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+	filtered := i.NetworkAddresses[:0]
+	for _, addr := range i.NetworkAddresses {
+		if slices.Contains(ips, addr.NetIP.Addr()) {
+			continue
+		}
+		filtered = append(filtered, addr)
+	}
+	i.NetworkAddresses = filtered
+}
+
 // extractUserAgent extracts Netbird's agent (client) name and version from the outgoing context
 func extractUserAgent(ctx context.Context) string {
 	md, hasMeta := metadata.FromOutgoingContext(ctx)
@@ -147,7 +165,9 @@ func extractDeviceName(ctx context.Context, defaultName string) string {
 }

 // GetInfoWithChecks retrieves and parses the system information with applied checks.
-func GetInfoWithChecks(ctx context.Context, checks []*proto.Checks) (*Info, error) {
+// excludeIPs are dropped from the reported network addresses (e.g. our own
+// WireGuard overlay address, which otherwise churns the peer meta).
+func GetInfoWithChecks(ctx context.Context, checks []*proto.Checks, excludeIPs ...netip.Addr) (*Info, error) {
 	log.Debugf("gathering system information with checks: %d", len(checks))
 	processCheckPaths := make([]string, 0)
 	for _, check := range checks {
@@ -162,6 +182,7 @@ func GetInfoWithChecks(ctx context.Context, checks []*proto.Checks) (*Info, erro

 	info := GetInfo(ctx)
 	info.Files = files
+	info.removeAddresses(excludeIPs...)

 	log.Debugf("all system information gathered successfully")
 	return info, nil
--- a/client/system/info_test.go
+++ b/client/system/info_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package system

 import (
 	"context"
+	"net/netip"
 	"testing"

 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
@@ -43,3 +44,42 @@ func Test_NetAddresses(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("no network addresses found")
 	}
 }
+
+func TestInfo_RemoveAddresses(t *testing.T) {
+	addr := func(cidr string) NetworkAddress {
+		return NetworkAddress{NetIP: netip.MustParsePrefix(cidr)}
+	}
+
+	info := &Info{
+		NetworkAddresses: []NetworkAddress{
+			addr("192.168.1.7/24"),
+			addr("100.76.70.97/32"),                          // overlay v4 (host mask /32)
+			addr("2001:818:c51b:4800:845:a65d:ae6f:623f/64"), // real global v6
+			addr("fd00:1234::1/64"),                          // overlay v6
+		},
+	}
+
+	// Overlay addresses as the engine knows them, with a different mask (/16, /64).
+	info.removeAddresses(
+		netip.MustParseAddr("100.76.70.97"),
+		netip.MustParseAddr("fd00:1234::1"),
+	)
+
+	want := []string{"192.168.1.7/24", "2001:818:c51b:4800:845:a65d:ae6f:623f/64"}
+	if len(info.NetworkAddresses) != len(want) {
+		t.Fatalf("got %d addresses, want %d: %v", len(info.NetworkAddresses), len(want), info.NetworkAddresses)
+	}
+	for i, w := range want {
+		if got := info.NetworkAddresses[i].NetIP.String(); got != w {
+			t.Errorf("address[%d] = %s, want %s", i, got, w)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInfo_RemoveAddresses_NoOp(t *testing.T) {
+	info := &Info{NetworkAddresses: []NetworkAddress{{NetIP: netip.MustParsePrefix("10.0.0.1/24")}}}
+	info.removeAddresses()
+	if len(info.NetworkAddresses) != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("expected no change with empty input, got %v", info.NetworkAddresses)
+	}
+}
--- a/client/system/network_addr.go
+++ b/client/system/network_addr.go
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ func toNetworkAddress(address net.Addr, mac string) (NetworkAddress, bool) {
 	if !ok {
 		return NetworkAddress{}, false
 	}
-	if ipNet.IP.IsLoopback() {
+	// Skip link-local and multicast: they carry no routable peer info and the
+	// IPv6 link-local of a flapping NIC churns the meta on every up/down.
+	if ipNet.IP.IsLoopback() || ipNet.IP.IsLinkLocalUnicast() || ipNet.IP.IsMulticast() {
 		return NetworkAddress{}, false
 	}
 	prefix, err := netip.ParsePrefix(ipNet.String())
--- a/client/system/network_addr_test.go
+++ b/client/system/network_addr_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+//go:build !ios
+
+package system
+
+import (
+	"net"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func mustIPNet(t *testing.T, cidr string) *net.IPNet {
+	t.Helper()
+	ip, ipNet, err := net.ParseCIDR(cidr)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("parse %q: %v", cidr, err)
+	}
+	ipNet.IP = ip
+	return ipNet
+}
+
+func TestToNetworkAddress_Filtering(t *testing.T) {
+	const mac = "c8:4b:d6:b6:04:ac"
+
+	tests := []struct {
+		name string
+		cidr string
+		want bool
+	}{
+		{"ipv4 global", "10.65.16.181/23", true},
+		{"ipv6 global", "2620:52:0:4110:102d:6a98:ee75:8b92/64", true},
+		{"ipv4 loopback", "127.0.0.1/8", false},
+		{"ipv6 loopback", "::1/128", false},
+		{"ipv6 link-local", "fe80::871:4c25:23d7:2529/64", false},
+		{"ipv4 link-local", "169.254.1.2/16", false},
+		{"ipv6 multicast", "ff02::1/128", false},
+	}
+
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			_, got := toNetworkAddress(mustIPNet(t, tt.cidr), mac)
+			if got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("toNetworkAddress(%s) ok = %v, want %v", tt.cidr, got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}
--- a/Show More
+++ b/Show More